List of FosterAudios episodes

## PRESEASON

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1. I'm So Happy I'm Home

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Foster comes home after a long day of shooting to find Listener in bed, and talks about her excitement about being allowed to perform a stunt at work, before leaving to get ready for bed.

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2. Actress GF speaks French to you

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Foster is excited about an upcoming episode where she gets to use her European heritage, and vents to Listener about France, Disneyland Paris and European food. She also speaks French to practice.

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3. Your actress GF hates interviews and vents to you

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Foster is nervous about a slate of interviews planned tomorrow. She's scared to mess up on accident, and admires Sophia for staying tightlipped. Listener explains that they are home early because of a gas leak scare in their office building. Foster confesses that she feels bad about not spending enough time with Listener, with both of them being busy at work.

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4. Your actress GF confesses when you're sleeping

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Foster comes home and finds Listener asleep in bed. She's upset because she's just finished a scene where she had to find Sophia's character Audrey unconscious in their apartment. While shooting the scene, to get in the zone emotionally, Foster pretended it was Listener lying there instead of Sophia. This upset Foster emotionally, and she was hoping to talk to Listener awake to see that they're okay. At the end, it's revealed that Listener had been awake for most of the explanation. Foster freaks out, thinking she scared Listener off, but they reassure her that everything is fine.

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5. Your actress GF thanks you for sticking by her

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Foster and Listener play a guess-the-capital game with the currency being kisses. After that, Foster laments the expectations that come with being famous. Saying that when she used to live downtown she clawed at the walls to go outside, but now she prefers to stay in with Listener instead of going out and being recognized. She also mentions the liberties some fans take in sending her and Sophia messages about AlDrey (the canon ship of Alex/Audrey in Westbound), and wanting her and Sophia to be in a relationship in real life, something that both actresses try not to let interfere with their friendship. She thanks Listener for being cool about it, and for understanding how difficult the situation is.

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6. Your girlfriend has an accident at work

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Listener discovers through social media that Foster was rushed to the hospital. When Foster comes home, she assures Listener that it wasn't a big deal. In a scene they shot that day, Foster was supposed to have a revelation about the case and run away, turning the corner to be out of sight. During a changeover, the prop department put a cart around the corner to be out of sight for the camera. Foster ran around the corner during a take and tripped over the cart full force, hurting her knee. Despite Foster saying she was fine, Stephen, the director, insisted that she went to the hospital to get checked. The x-rays were all good, and Foster laughed about the dramatics of articles mentioning she was 'rushed to the hospital' when in reality she was in a golf cart, waving to people around her.

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7. Babe, what do you think?

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Foster asks Listener's input on a debate she had at work: if there are two lasagnas stacked on top of one another, does that count as one big lasagna? Apparently, the debate took over the entire cast and crew that day. After talking about it, Foster is in the mood for some lasagna, and asks Listener if they want to watch Shrek. She asks if Listener knows Shrek the Musical, and vows to watch it next date night. Foster is giddy about watching Shrek and eating lasagna, wanting to make the actor group chat jealous.

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8. Oh no, babe, are you okay?

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Foster comes in the bedroom, but sees that Listener is lying in bed with a migraine. She gets into concerned girlfriend-mode, and asks if Listener has had enough to drink and eat, offering to be their personal servant. She then offers to play some music, getting her guitar. She sings *Iris* by the *Goo Goo Dolls* and *Falling* by *Harry Styles* for Listener. They remember going to a Harry Styles show earlier. Listener was super excited to go, and Foster admits that she fell even more in love seeing Listener so happy. Listener is falling asleep, and Foster stays with them until they do.

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9. I just wanted her to be proud of me

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Foster wraps up a long phonecall with her mother, and listener checks in with her. Foster says she knows her mother is proud of her, but she has never really shown a lot of affection, and now that she's in this influential position, her mother's attention feels opportunistic. She wants to come visit, but Foster doesn't want that. She's very happy there's distance between her and her parents - they have never met Listener in those six years, because Foster is scared her mother is going to scare Listener off. Foster is a bit envious of the great relationship Listener has with their parents, and asks to see them again soon. Foster decides that Listener being there and being proud of her means more to her than her than her mother's approval ever could.

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10. Babe, I have so much work to do

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Foster is reading lines when Listener comes in to ask for attention. To compromise, Foster asks Listener to read lines with her. Foster is cringing at her own line delivery, and explains the technicalities behind shooting a scene. She confesses that she would love to try her hand at directing. During their line reading, Listener makes some advances. Foster compromizes that she'll only learn the lines they'll shoot before lunch to finish sooner, so they can spend some time together.

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11. Please don't move, you're hurt

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Foster rushes home from an event to find Listener on the floor. They hit their head going down, and Foster is worried and calls an ambulance. She stays with Listener and stabilizes them. Foster deduces that it's because Listener hasn't drunk enough water. Listener feels bad about pulling Foster away from the event, but Foster ensures her that it was a boring event anyway. Listener called her in a confused panic, so it's only logical that she would drop everything to go home. Listener doesn't remember falling or what happened, and Foster worries. The ambulance arrives, and Foster goes downstairs to open the door for them.

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12. Babe, please come cuddle with me

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Foster wakes up at three in the afternoon after a long nightshoot and greets Listener, asking if they need a sandwich. While watching them work, Foster admits that she'll never understand Listener's job - numbers and finances. They joke about swapping jobs, until Foster realizes that Listener has an hour before the next meeting, and tries to convince them to go to bed and cuddle for a bit. Listener declines, leaving Foster to joke about withholding cool stories about what happened during the night shoot. They agree that after Listener's meeting, they'll spend time together, and kiss, before Foster walks away to get breakfast.

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13.  I don't like myself, baby

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Foster asks Listener whether they have a few minutes to talk - and asks to be held. Something happened at work during lunch that she's trying to process. One of the crew members showed some leaked photos from a future episode that are doing the rounds online. The scene had Alex looking tired and worn - and the make-up look reflected that. Foster states that Sophia looked absolutely gorgeous in the photos, but she struggled with seeing her own face and reading the comments. She laments that she's an actress, and her body and looks are a huge part of her job, but the photos made her feel ugly and worthless. Finally, she admits that it's been a long time since she's been able to look in the mirror and be happy with what she saw. Listener comforts her, saying that Foster is beautiful to them. Foster admits that it wasn't as much the pictures as it was the cast and crew praising Sophia's look and laughing at hers. She tried to laugh along to avoid making a scene, but didn't feel comfortable. She also struggles with seeing her face everywhere: on billboards, on social media, being tagged in fanedits... Listener asks Foster to look at herself from their perspective. Foster says she knows Listener loves her, but still struggles with loving herself. She tells Listener they're the only person she can be vulnerable with about these types of things. To reclaim the picture - that has already been memed online by fans - Foster decides to upload her own caption to the picture on her socials. She thanks Listener for making her feel better.

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14. It was so scary

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Foster comes home late and tells Listener that she had to give a police statement. While shooting a scene that day, Foster, Heather and Sophia took a break outside the sound stage. Heather smokes, so Foster and Sophia kept her company while running some lines. She explains a guy that had been sending creepy DM's to the cast was all of a sudden standing in front of them. Him being a crazy AlDrey fan, he mostly adressed her and Sophia and struggled distinguishing reality from fiction. In the episode broadcast a week ago, the two characters had a big fight, and the man insisted that Foster and Sophia apologized to one another - adressing the actresses with their characters' names. Heather tried to talk him down, stepping between him and the two women. Eventually, Sophia just decided to play along and apologized to Foster. That apparently being good enough for the man, he ran off. After Heather went inside to get help, security came out and combed through the entire studio grounds to find him, without results. Foster admits she was terrified, completely unsure what the man was capable of. And especially, with how he seemed to be in the delusion that the show was actually real life, Foster is scared that he'll see Listener and her together, and freak out. Police arrived when security couldn't find the man, and they took everybody's statements. Foster ends the conversation by saying that she wouldn't want to scare Listener, so if they wanted less PDA, she would respect that, adding that she couldn't bear the thought of losing Listener.

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15. Happy Halloween to me

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*Note: this is the only audio that is specifically labeled as F4F - Listener therefore has female pronouns here.*

Foster picks up an unmarked package sent to their address and asks Listener if it's hers. Listener explains that it's an order of Halloween costumes she ordered as a surprise. She says she has three outfits for Halloween parties. Foster, despite being unable to attend any because of work, encourages her to do a little fashion show and says she wants to help her choose. Listener implores Foster to turn around and close her eyes. The first costume is very pink - with Foster guessing Listener is a lawyer flamingo. Listener explains it's supposed to be BarBG - a Barbie Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Foster praises the creativity, before being prompted to turn around once more. The second costume is a Playboy Bunny costume - that Foster is very excited to see. She gushes over Listener's hotness, and takes her time taking in the costume. The third one Foster recognizes instantly as Audrey, Sophia's character from Westbound. Listener has an entire show-accurate outfit, apparently having received help from Sophia herself, who snuck some wardrobe off set to surprise Foster. Foster is definitely surprised, the combination of Sophia and Listener seemingly breaking her brain, before proclaiming that neither of them will tell Sophia what happened, but they are in for an 'interesting night'.

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16. Baby, you're okay, just breathe

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Foster wakes up in the middle of the night because of Listener's tossing and turning, and asks them to tone it down - only seconds later realizing that Listener is actively having a nightmare. She gently tries to wake them up and urges them to hold on to her and take a few deep breaths. She then asks if Listener wants to talk about what happened - or what the nightmare was about. Foster then compares having nightmares to falling off a horse; it's important to get back on the horse as soon as possible to get over the fear. Listener feels guilty about keeping Foster up when they have to get up early for work, but Foster assures them it's fine and urges them to go back to sleep. Listener finally tells Foster what the nightmare was about - Foster cheating on them. Foster tells them she understands how real it can feel, but assures them that they are the only one for her, and that she's not going anywhere. In Foster's arms, Listener falls back asleep.

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17. No, babe, please stay here

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Listener comes home after work to find Foster in the driveway of their house. Foster says she called the police because she found some glass and a dirt footprint in the living room when she came home, and got scared somebody was inside the house with her. She says she's trying not to freak Listener out, but just wants to be sure the house is empty before they go inside. Foster says she's confused because she thought she'd put the alarm on. However, when Listener checks the app, it turns out that in all of the confusion with work, Foster forgot to turn it on that day. This causes Foster to freak out and have a panic attack over her negligence. Listener urges Foster to sit down, and grabs her some soda. Foster reminds Listener that there have been breakins in the neighborhood. Listener calms Foster down by making her remember the time they were dogsitting for Heather's dog and Foster locked herself out, with Listener in the shower unable to hear their phone or hear Foster's calls. Listener urges Foster to get into the car to stay safe, and helps Foster - who is unstable on her feet due to the panic attack - towards it.

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18. Don't read those hurtful comments

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Foster is telling a story about how she forgot her badge at the studios and had to explain to a new security guard who she was by pulling up her own Wikipedia page. Listener seems distracted, and Foster looks at their screen. Sees that they are scrolling through their tagged posts and images - a lot of them being negative and hurtful comments. Foster laments that due to the AlDrey ship on Westbound being so popular, fans have started this parasocial arc that her and Sophia should be together in real life too. With Listener and Foster not hiding their relationship, that inevitably puts a target on Listener's back. Foster apologizes to Listener for the comments, and wishes she could tell those fans that they're talking about actual people. She decides that she'll block people who are too mean towards Listener - sad that people who know her favorite color and food seem to think they know her as a person. To make Listener understand that she's all-in on the relationship, Foster decides to post a photo of the two of them on a hike a few days before.

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19. I'm so happy you were there, baby

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Foster and Listener come home after a red carpet movie premiere. Foster is overstimulated from the lights, shouting and photographers. She asks if Listener wants to take a shower together. Listener makes a cup of tea while Foster relaxes on the couch. Foster starts talking tiredly, joking about getting fastfood and complimenting Listener's looks. She asks Listener to come cuddle with her for a bit, considering skipping the shower to just go to bed. She thanks Listener for grounding her - especially during stressful events like these. Foster says she probably doesn't have the energy to go upstairs and head to bed, so Listener joins her on the couch.

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20. I love you so much, babe

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Foster comes home to a decorated living room, and pretends to be shocked at having forgotten their sixth anniversary. Last year Foster was in charge of organizing and she had llama's, so she's curious to see how Listener one-upped her. Listener urges her to put on a blindfold, and Foster complies. Listener shows off a painting that they had custom made of a picture from their first date. Foster and Listener reminisce about how they met six years ago at the party of a mutual friend Listener went to school with. Foster was playing some beer pong and noticed Listener watching her, so she decided to go talk to them. Then, they talk about their first date at the beach - Foster had spilled soda on herself so the two of them ran into the sea, and that visual of Listener in the water was what convinced Foster she was in love with them. She asks what else Listener has planned for the anniversary, and Listener admits they made a reservation for one of Foster's favorite restaurants, which is impossible to get into. They did it by making the reservation one year ago. Foster thanks Listener for the already perfect day, and tells them how blessed she feels to love them.

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21. I just want your parents to like me

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Foster comes downstairs and tells Listener she's going golfing with Chris and Jerry. Listener says that they are scheduled to have dinner with Listener's parents at 12 - a plan Foster has completely forgotten about. Foster apologizes, but says she's going to be there for sure. She's nervous about their parents, wanting to still after all these years make a good impression on them. Foster asks where they're going to have lunch, and remembers last time Listener got pretty sick. Listener assures her that they'll be okay. Foster reiterates that she wants their parents to like her. With her own family being on another continent, she really sees Listener's parents as her 'Foster parents'. After Listener assuring her that everything is okay as long as she can make the lunch, Foster promises to be there, and leaves to get changed.

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22. I can't stop watching this

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Foster is scrolling through TikTok when she finds a fanedit of herself as Alex in Westbound, and tells Listener to come and watch it. Foster says the edit makes her look insanely hot, which is hard to do. She says she feels like a dumb idiot with other people in the cast looking effortlessly beautiful and hot. Listener notices that Sophia has commented 'that's my girl' underneath the video, a comment a lot of fans ran with. Foster jokingly implores Listener to reply to defend her honor. While Fostener continues talking, Listener silently watches the video on loop - eventually sending it to their mother. This makes Foster slightly embarassed, until Barbara replies how beautiful and hot Foster looks. While Foster tends to other things around the house, Listener keeps the video playing.

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23. I'm going to kill him for what he did to you

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Foster wakes up a napping Listener because they need the Netflix password - but then see that Listener isn't feeling well. They explain that they've been having trouble at work. Foster drops everything to listen. Listener explains they had a fight with their boss. Ever since he got the promotion, Listener has been stressed, pulling allnighters and working impossible deadlines. Foster convinces Listener that they're good enough, despite their boss clearly not showing it, and tries to convince Listener to look for another job that will treat them the way they deserve. Listener finally admits that their boss told them they were a 'waste of an office desk'. Foster freaks out, and demands that Listener talks to HR or gets another job. She wraps Listener up in her arms, and soothes them. Gets emotional over how much she loves Listener, and wants them to be okay. She implores Listener to talk to her about their frustrations, to not keep them bottled up, and urges them to get some rest. They'll go out for dinner later.

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24. Relax, I've got you, baby

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Foster welcomes Listener back after their first day of work with a bottle of wine, and asks them about their day. Foster gives them a shoulder massage while they talk. Foster paints a picture of a peaceful white beach for Listener to relax and not think about work. She also tells Listener to maybe go to a physical therapist to get some exercises to loosen up the stress. Foster says she's proud of Listener, and calls herself the luckiest girl in the world for having Listener by her side. There are leftovers in the fridge as they go through the bottle of wine together and make plans to go out later that night.

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25. I know you're nervous about hospitals

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Listener is due to have a routine operation. Foster is ready to head to the hospital, but Listener is hesitant to leave. Foster understands that Listener is scared, and tries to comfort them. Says that she's cleared her schedule, that staying there with Listener is all she wants to do today. Listener says they are scared of the anaesthesia, and to be put under. Foster talks about her friend Helen, a nurse, that told her that there are multiple plans for people who don't wake up from the anaesthetic. Convinces Listener that she'll be there all night with whatever Listener needs, but that the surgery is actually for their own good, and it'll be worse in the long run if they don't do it. Foster asks what games she needs to bring, remembering the debacle of last time when she forgot Uno. That snaps Listener out of their scare, who follows Foster out the door.

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26. I'm just gonna sit here and watch you

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Foster comes home early from work, casually eating a lollipop. There was a bomb threat at the studios, and they wrapped early. Listener is doing some garden work because of a scheduling issue, while Foster explains that there was a package left at the security checkpoint. The bomb squad had to come and do a controlled explosion but it turned out to be a random delivery that halted the entire studio lot. Foster hopes the reshoots won't mess with their upcoming vacation plans to Europe. They're going to fly to Paris and travel all over Europe by train. Foster is trying to wrap her brain around the plans changing, and then offers to clean the pool (though she's afraid it'll turn into a 'pool boy fantasy' for Listener). But then, she suddenly remembers that she's arranged a replacement gardener coming in, so Listener can stop working and relax. She offers to go inside and watch a movie together.

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27. How about some kisses?

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Foster lies awake in the middle of the night, because her work schedule causes her sleep schedule to completely mess up. Listener confesses that they're worried about Foster not getting enough sleep, but Foster reassures them that she's okay. They talk for a bit. They both consider having sex, but are too tired, and settle on kissing. Foster talks about receiving some weird DM's about sponsored content involving plastic surgery, and jokes about being offended, continuing that Laura filters through most of her DM's - some of them being dickpics. Sometimes, Laura sends the funny stuff over to her, but Foster commends her for being a trooper and suffering through the slop of messages. She also says she now has a weekly DM exchange at work with Sophia, Heather, Daisy and Lauren. Foster gets tired and starts rambling about the laundry and sheets, then drinks some water and proceeds to choke on it. She jokes about Listener laughing and not helping her. Eventually, they start kissing again. Foster claims that she might have some energy left after all, and the two start to have sex.

## SEASON ONE

### First Threats

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28. Baby, is that a bruise?

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Foster comes home from the store and starts to put away the groceries while talking to Listener about a Karen at the store that recognized her and demanded attention. Listener is only half paying attention, and Foster eventually notices. She realizes Listener is wearing a hood, and pulls it off to reveal that Listener has a black eye. Listener tries to convince Foster they slipped, but she isn't buying it. Foster freaks out about Listener trying to hide it, but calms down to keep Listener calm. Listener explains they were walking home from work because they'd ran out of gas. Foster implores them to call her next time, despite being at work, saying she considers Listener a top priority. Listener continues that a man walked up to them, and asked for directions. After that, he pulled a knife. When Listener tried to run away, he tackled and punched them. Foster is beside herself with worry - especially when Listener reveals that they just walked home instead of calling for help. She realizes Listener might be in shock, and tries to call 911. Listener stops her. Foster tries to compromize on driving Listener to the ER herself. She implores Listener to lay down, and Foster calls the hospital for advice. They tell her that if Listener has any external injuries, she should call an ambulance anyway. If not, they can meet them at the hospital. Foster does a check-up on Listener's body. Listener's chest hurts a bit, along with their head. She's not seeing any blood or external injuries, and sighs in relief. She says she's going to put the car in the driveway to be closer to the door, and tells Listener to stay put. Repeats that Listener needs to call her next time, and to never feel like a burden in these situations. She goes to get the car.

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29. Please tell me this is a joke, babe

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Foster wakes up and greets Listener downstairs, saying she's going to grab the mail quickly before leaving for work. She jokes that she wants a full english breakfast by the time she's back from the mailbox, and leaves. When she returns, she goes through the mail to find some bills, royalty cheques and a letter addressed to Listener. Foster convinces Listener to open it for them, but then freezes as she reads through it. There is no return address on it, but it's clearly a threat - 'the two of you are not meant for each other, she deserves so much better'. Foster pleads with Listener to tell her that it's an inside joke between them and some friends, because the alternative is that somebody is actually threatening them. Listener checks the Ring-camera pointed at the mailbox from their phone. Foster, in the meantime, wants to pour herself a drink but then remembers she has to go to work. She says she doesn't want to leave Listener there alone, so she wants to call in sick. She has a small panic attack, while Listener shows her the camera footage. It just shows a grainy, hooded figure. Foster can't see whether it's the stalker she saw at the studios. She then asks Listener to come with her to work, so she can keep an eye on them. Foster inspects the letter and envelope, not seeing any powder or attachments. Freaked out, she asks whether they can get a hotel room for the night. She says she wants to keep this between them and maybe involve the police, but she also wants to get Sophia up to speed because if this threat was made by the stalker, then Sophia and Michael might be in danger too. Foster and Listener say how much they love each other, and decide to call the police in the car on the way to the studios.

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30. It's just the two of us

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Foster and Listener enter their booked hotel room, and gush over the size and beauty of it. Foster sees the jacuzzi in the bathroom and is excited to get in. She suggests they get some champagne and take a nice bath together. Listener gets sad, and Foster reminds them that they shouldn't think too much about why they are there, and to try and enjoy it - pretending they're on a weekend getaway. Foster gets the champagne while Listener undresses and figures out how to turn on the jacuzzi. When Foster returns, she urges Listener to turn around while she gets undressed, and gets into the water. They relax together, Foster talks a bit about work. Listener gets distracted by Foster's lips, and asks if they've ever made out in a jacuzzi. Foster kisses them, and says they need a jacuzzi in their back garden. Tries to gauge whether they can tip a doordasher to come in to their bathroom to deliver the food to them. They talk about food for a bit, Listener slanders mayonnaise (something Foster is extremely defensive about), and Foster says she'll hide every ketchup bottle in the house once they get back - something that makes her think about the threats and stalker again, and bums her out. She tries to convince herself and Listener that the police will catch the guy, and going home will be safe again. Sophia has told Foster that she hasn't received any threats. The police want to take it seriously, but don't have much to go off of. Foster tries to get out of her head, and returns to the topic of food. Between kisses, they discuss what they want to order. Foster finally gets out of the tub to grab her phone from the bed.

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31. I feel awful, baby

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Foster wakes herself up from coughing, suffering from a cold. Listener tries to soothe and comfort her. Foster says she hasn't called in sick yet, hoping that some medication will do the trick, because she has too many scenes to shoot tomorrow. She doesn't want Listener to kiss her to avoid getting them sick too, but they ignore her and kiss her anyway. Now that the 'seal's broken', Foster demands attention and kisses. She talks about a scene in Westbound where she was being resuscitated, and goes off on a tangent about breaking ribs during CPR, and how much head wounds bleed. Listener finds her ramblings adorable. Foster insists on going to work in the morning, saying she'll just chug an energy drink and get to it. Listener checks her temperature and finds she has a fever, but Foster waves the concerns away - she really can't stay home. The only thing she's worried about are some running scenes, in which she'll probably 'sound like a dying dolphin', hoping they can rewrite or reschedule those. She promises Listener that if she reaches her limit, she'll go home. She also says she'll be home as soon as possible, so the two can spend some quality time together.

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32. I'm going to cook for you, baby

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Foster has forgotten to go to the store to get food, but solved the problem by taking leftover tikka masala from work for them to eat. When Listener explains they don't like Indian food, Foster freaks out at how much she has messed up. She insists on going back to the store to fix her mistake. Listener tries to explain that it's not a big deal, but Foster doesn't want to hear it. She leaves Listener with some snacks, and heads back outside. Foster returns with some turkey, wanting to toss Listener a salad. Listener joins her in the kitchen, insisting that she's doing a lot. Foster is just intent on fixing her mistake, feeling stupid that she didn't remember such a trivial yet important detail about Listener. They talk for a bit about Listener's work, baby names and upcoming Westbound scenes (including a scrapped stunt and story sequence where Alex was injured in a bomb blast and was rushed to the hospital, being received by Audrey, who didn't receive a heads up that her love was hurt). Listener keeps on sneaking croutons in their mouth, and Foster chastizes them for not having any left for the salad. She finishes up, and apologizes again for forgetting about dinner.

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33. I didn't mean to say that, I'm sorry

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Listener is sleeping on the couch after a fight with Foster. The latter comes home, and asks Listener to talk, having promised to never go to bed angry. She apologizes for having made an insensitive joke about the stalker - explaining that it's usually a coping mechanism for anxiety, and also trying to brighten people's day. But it was out of line, and she feels bad about it. She also says that if Listener was offended, they should have mentioned it, instead of holding their tongue but then later throwing it in her face. The stalker situation really freaks her out, but she knows they're safe with new cameras and sharpened security at work. Foster is aware that it might sound dramatic, but she doesn't want to go to bed knowing that Listener is angry at her because of what might happen. Her love for Listener is unconditional. She asks Listener to please come with her to bed, and promises to be better. Listener isn't sure what they want, so Foster tells them she's going to get ready for bed.

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34. I feel very sexy like this

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Foster talks excitedly about Jane, an actress that has a guest role on Westbound. She's British, and Foster is absolutely smitten with the way she talks. Foster proceeds to practice accents on Listener - some of them good, most of them bad. British, Scottish, Irish, Australian, New Zealand all pass the revue, before Foster gushes some more about Jane, and laments that actors with beautiful foreign accents have to do an American accent coming over to the US. Foster decides that she wants to play a British character before she dies, and she and Listener fantasize about living a quaint life in the UK together. Foster then says she'll go grab some food and take a nap, and leaves.

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35. What did she do to you?

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Foster is venting about a work scheduling conflict - and notices that Listener isn't paying attention to her at all, and is preoccupied with their phone. Foster confronts them - but Listener gets defensive, and tells her she can't look at the screen. Foster admits Listener is freaking her out, and Listener finally admits it's messages from their ex. Foster says she doesn't know the ex very well, because Listener hasn't told her a lot about her. They say that the ex is asking about a book that they still have. Foster says they probably threw that away during their move to the new house, and doesnt understand why the ex, which Listener broke up with 7 years ago, all of a sudden wants it back. Foster sees a message implying that the ex and Listener met recently, and gets confused. Listener finally confesses that the night they ran out of gas, they bumped into their ex on accident. The ex confronted them about their relationship with Foster, and hit them. Foster is extremely upset at hearing that, and vows to kill the ex when she ever sees her. She also needs to process that Listener lied about getting mugged. She rationalizes that it was probably traumatizing for Listener to bump into her and understands why they lied, but if Listener had been honest, they wouldn't have lied to the police and might have been able to arrest the ex. Now, she still walks free. Foster asks Listener to block the ex's number and social media accounts - but makes clear that if Listener ever lies to her like that again, she'll walk away. Listener apologizes, and she accepts.

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36. In another life

```

Foster comes back home after a workout at the gym, where the showers aren't working. She enters the office, where Listener is working. Foster, still sweaty, goes to sit on Listener's lap to distract them from work. Listener shows Foster what they've been working on, but Foster doesn't understand the numbers and spreadsheets. The conversation evolves into Foster admitting that next to an actor, she's always wanted to be a paramedic. She admits that on a day while shooting the first season, she asked to put on a paramedic costume and sit in an ambulance to live out her dream. She considers getting her paramedic license once Westbound is done. Listener sheepishly admits that they'd always wanted to be a writer. Foster can't fathom that she didn't know about that, but Listener says they're embarassed because Foster is in the industry, and didn't want to sound opportunistic. Foster says that if Listener is ever confident enough to show her something, she would love to read it. She also jokes that if Westbound gets canceled, Listener would just have to write a new show about a hot paramedic and cast her. Foster talks about previous and upcoming Westbound scenes, and mentions that she's the most popular character on the show, if the polls are to be believed - so she's pretty confident they won't try to get rid of her any time soon. She tells Listener that if they're open to it, Foster can pull some strings with Jeremy, one of the writers on Westbound she's pretty close with. They could go grab lunch together and Listener could learn a thing or two. Listener is overwhelmed with gratitude. Foster reiterates that if they wanted a spot on the Westbound writing staff in time, she would fight to make it happen. Foster finally gets off Listener to go take a shower, and urges Listener to finish up work so they can go get food.

```
37. I'm sorry I'm not that romantic

```

It's Foster's turn to set up a date night, and she admits she's run out of ideas. But to her that opens up an opportunity: teamwork. She says she's found an interesting article with a few at-home date night ideas, and wants to run them by Listener to check. First suggestion is a game night, with Foster imagining the two of them playing strip poker. They remember the Monopoly-debacle of February 5th 2020, with Foster claiming she still has a scar from one of the hotel pieces hitting her. They go through a few more ideas, and joke around on the implications: building a fort, doing karaoke... Foster explains her dream trip with Listener: going to every Disneyland in the world, going to New Zealand, then taking a cruise home and stopping in Antarctica. They joke around some more with some ideas and remember a date night where they went to get tacos and sat at a park overlooking the Los Angeles skyline - proving that they didn't need prepped and well thought-out dates to have an amazing time. They eventually settle on recreating that date, but keeping the other ideas for a rainy day. Foster says that despite the fact she isn't the most romantic of creative date planner, she would sit with Listener eating tacos in a park every day for the rest of her life and be happy.

```
38. You can't sleep, baby?

```

It's a little after 7, and Listener is sleepy on the couch. Foster joins them, and asks them if they want to go to bed. She decides to get onto the couch next to Listener to spoon and cuddle. Listener says they were caught in traffic after an accident, and it ruined their day. Foster rambles for a bit, hoping that the sound of her voice will cause Listener to fall asleep. She tells a story about Willy, one of the guest actors, that comes in acting like his office on set is his actual property and freaked out when he was instructed to leave. After that, she explains that casts on tv shows are coworkers, not friends. She has gotten lucky with having so many good people to work with, but the public's notion that just because you play best friends on tv, you're best friends in real life, is untrue. She then cuddles Listener a bit tighter, saying there's some free days coming up in her schedule. If Listener could take a day off from work, they could do something together, like go to the zoo or the planetarium. They continue cuddling, and eventually fall asleep together.

```
39. You don't deserve to feel like this

```

*Note: this episode starts with a break of character from E to provide a trigger warning for self harm.*

Foster walks into the office to talk to Listener about something important. She asks Listener to wrap up work, but ensures them she's not breaking up with them. She says she saw something earlier that bothered her, but isn't sure how to broach the topic - ensuring a few times that Listener is okay, whether they need some water and are comfortable. Finally, Foster admits that she was taking out the trash this morning, and found some things that she wanted to ask Listener about. She says she viciously hopes she's drawing the wrong conclusions, but it's been a while since she's seen Listener without clothes on and she has been busy with work. She admits she saw bloody tissues and blades in the trash, and gets emotional when Listener tells her she's right. Foster tries to make sense of the situation, and asks whether it was the first time. She listens to Listener's story, and admits she hasn't been giving them the attention they deserve. She asks what she can do to help - take time off, be home more, help them find somebody to talk to... she admits that she had a period in her life before Listener came along where things weren't going good, and she self-harmed too. All she needed back then was somebody who told her they cared. And she wants to be that person for Listener. She asks if she can hold on to the blades without throwing them out, so they can control the situation a bit, because Foster doesn't feel comfortable just having them in the open of the bathroom. She's scared that Listener might go too far and Foster will find them on the floor, bleeding out. Foster reiterates how much she loves Listener, and how she wants them to be okay. She goes to make a cup of tea and shuts Listener's laptop so they can cuddle.

```
40. Let me get you some water

```

Foster and Listener just finish having sex, and catch their breaths. Foster gets up to get some water and snacks, and comes back with water, Powerade and a candy bar. Foster gets back in bed, and the two cuddle while Listener hydrates. Foster worries that she's been a little too rough, seeing some marks on Listener's neck. She freaks out, but Listener ensures her that it's fine. Foster jokes that her colleagues will just have to see she's good in bed. Listener asks if Foster can go again - she's hesitant, because they both have work in the morning. Foster grabs a hold of Listener's hand, and focuses on the ring finger, asking whether Listener has ever considered marrying her. Foster is content and satisfied, and tells Listener they're everything she needs, and the love of her life - causing Listener to laugh. Foster is jokingly offended, but when Listener states Foster always gets emotional after sex, she has to agree. She says they really should take a shower, but she doesn't want to get out of bed. Listener says they love Foster too, and Foster restarts her declarations of love, before urging Listener to eat and drink. They joke around a bit, before deciding to go to sleep.

```
41. Babe, can you help me out?

```

Foster asks if Listener has 15 minutes to help her out: she has to selftape an audition and needs somebody to do her lines with. With there being a possibility that Westbound would do a coma season where Alex nearly dies and lies unconscious in a hospital, her role would be greatly diminished. Foster wants to get a head start and look for something to do on the side, with her agent sending a few auditions. Foster sets the scene: it's an interrogation scene set in Afghanistan. Her character is a military intelligence officer who has just pulled her colleague off an interrogation because he wasn't doing a good job, and needs to take over. She needs the location of an important hostage. She does a few runthroughs of the scene dialogue, and workshops her voice and lines, before joking around a bit with the story. She's afraid she's not going to be badass enough to portray a military officer, but hopes she'll get the part because of the action and sfx-packed war scenes. They start recording the audition.

### Car Accident, Engagement & The Contract

```
42. Please don't let go of me

```

Foster is heard talking to a police officer about insurance, and then walks over to Listener, who is sitting on the curb. She asks whether the paramedics checked Listener out, and asks about their pain levels. Apparently, a guy drove too fast, missed the turn and hit Listener's car. Listener panics about the state of the car, but Foster ensures them that she doesn't care about the car as long as Listener is okay. Foster says she was on set when a crew member noticed her ringing phone and picked it up - a fact that Foster usually wouldn't appreciate, but it was rightfully urgent. She dropped everything to rush to the scene. She's concerned about Listener's state, and asks them to lean on her, gently stroking their hair. She gets emotional, but tries to keep it together. Foster slightly hurts herself on a piece of glass in Listener's hair, and asks why the paramedics didn't take Listener to the hospital, despite their insistance that they're fine. Foster promises them that as soon as something goes wrong, she's instantly taking them to the ER. After that, she says she'll take a day off work tomorrow to care for Listener - the scare of the situation making her realize she needs to spend more time with Listener instead of at work. Foster implores Listener to stay put while she goes to get her car closer so Listener doesn't have to walk too far.

```
43. How bad is the pain, baby

```

Listener wakes up in the hospital, to a teary Foster. She says that after they got home, Listener complained of a bad headache. Despite the paramedics having told her that it was just the whiplash, Foster couldn't stand to see them in pain and called an ambulance. Listener passed out in the ambulance, and had a seizure, freaking Foster out. The scans all looked normal, but the doctors still want to keep Listener overnight for observation. Foster gets emotional talking about Listener's seizure, but composes herself to not burden Listener with it. She expresses regret at not being more insistent at the scene that Listener wasn't okay, and that she should have called an ambulance sooner. Listener's parents are on their way, but they were out of state on a weekend getaway so it'll take some time for them to reach the hospital. Foster tells Listener they can pick whatever they want to do when they get back home, but they first need to figure out what's wrong, so Listener can get better. Foster is angry at the paramedics at the scene of the accident for their negligence, but says that the paramedics that helped during their seizure were very compassionate and supportive. Finally, Foster expresses gratefulness at being Listener's emergency contact - and asks them to marry her. She says she doesn't have a ring on her and it might be spur of the moment, but it has made her realize that she doesn't want to go a day without Listener again. Listener says yes - and the two kiss.

```
44. I failed you, babe

```

Listener is back home from the hospital and Foster forces them to stay on the couch, stating the doctors have advised a few days of rest with no screens. Foster offers up a board or card game, and implores Listener to communicate on pain levels, in case she needs to give them another dose. While Foster sets up the games, Listener asks about the elephant in the room. Foster finally snaps, and admits that the past hours have been hell for her - the thought of losing Listener made her feel every emotion at once. Especially guilt from having not seen the signs before. She feels embarassed about the proposal - claiming she wanted it to be a tender, romantic moment, not with an injured Listener in pain at the hospital. Listener deserved better - and Foster feels like she failed them. Listener explains that they said yes for a reason - and waves away Foster's pleas to do it over again. To them, it was perfect. The two joke about telling a different proposal story to friends and family that's far more romantic, and eventually decide they'll go forward as fiancé(e)s.

```
45. Good night, baby

```

Foster comes home late after work, and cuddles up to Listener in bed. She says she feels bad about knowing that Listener was cooped up at home while she was at work, but rushed back as quickly as possible. Listener says their dad stopped by to bring some food. Foster asks if they told their father the big news, but Listener responds they should do that announcement together. They should also go shopping for rings. Foster says she wouldn't necessarily get a ring, but maybe a tattoo of a ring instead - with work requiring her to take it off so much, she has a fear of losing it. Foster is tired from a long day of work, and the two cuddle for a bit while Foster whispers sweet nothings in Listener's ear. She gets a little concerned at Listener's temperature, but stops hovering quickly. She concludes that she has hit the jackpot with Listener, and doesn't know what she ever did to deserve it. They say good night, and go to bed.

```
46. I lose you either way

```

Foster and Listener check up on each other after Foster comes home from work. Foster is bothered by something that happened at work. In a break between scenes, she was called up to the executives' offices. She assumed bad news, thinking they were going to demote or fire her. When she got to the meeting room, the executives explained to her that they were very happy with Alex being a fan favorite. Then, they asked about her dating life. She explained that she'd just recently gotten engaged to Listener. They said there was a lot of future within the network for Foster, and that the Alex and Audrey relationship scored so well that they wanted to develop a spin-off show with the two of them. But there needed to be buzz around them - with the executives expecting Foster and Sophia to feed the rumors there was something going on between them. With Sophia being married and Foster freshly engaged, she couldn't really see how. But Foster says that even if they consented to it for promotional sake, what would Listener's family or their friends think? She doesn't want people to think she's a cheater. However, Foster tells Listener it's very hard to say no to the network. While they might act understanding - the power imbalance would for sure mean that behind the scenes they would axe the spinoff, diminish her character or maybe even kill Alex off - all the while pretending it was due to budget cuts or necessary story sacrifices. Foster is stuck between a rock and a hard place - not wanting to start up drama but also acknowledging that the spinoff would mean a great deal to her. Maybe, if Sophia and her stand united as one and make a different pledge (to create more content with the two of them to feed the fans without feeding into dating rumors purposefully), the network would accept the compromise, and everybody wins. It's a gamble, but Foster realizes she has no other option without sacrificing things. With Sophia and Michael going through a rough patch, though, Foster is scared that Sophia might flip on her to go all-in on the show. That would leave Foster as the rotten apple in the plan - something she wants to avoid. Foster says she's going to drive over to Sophia's house and talk to her. Listener asks what saying yes to the plan would involve. Foster says it would be a lot of PDA between Sophia and her, and eventually staged paparazzi photos of them kissing. With the spinoff happening next year at the earliest, Foster doesn't want to keep that charade up for that long, saying openly that she doesn't think their relationship would survive that *and* put strain on the deep bond she and Sophia share. Foster heads out to go to Sophia, and promises to keep Listener posted on what they decide.

```
47. Babe, are you serious?

```

Foster catches Listener in the dramatic act of watching an episode of Criminal Minds without her - a betrayal of the highest order. Foster acts hurt, but then joins Listener on the couch to watch it. Foster tells Listener that while she intended to go with Sophia to the network executives meeting, Sophia asked to go in alone - which worried her. Sophia ended up getting the same speech, and opened up to the executives about her struggling marriage and being apprehensive about the idea. Apparently, the executives understood. Foster joined in on the meeting, with the two of them explaining they work very well together as a team, and fans can see that without unnecessary drama. Sophia also doesn't want people to speculate on her sexuality. It seems like the compromise they discussed will be the plan going forward: hanging out with Sophia and posting a lot, while still guarding their boundaries. Foster insists on watching Criminal Minds back from the spot they stopped at, not caring that Listener has already seen the next three. Foster says she and Sophia received an email on activities paid by the network with staged photo ops, but still ensures Listener that they are beautiful and the love of her life. While they watch Criminal Minds, Sophia texts Foster that she and Michael had a very bad fight over the plan, with Michael acting jealous and leaving. Listener pauses the episode, while Foster goes into the other room to call Sophia to comfort her.

```
48. What are you accusing me of?

```

Foster and Listener wake up together in the morning. With Thanksgiving around the corner, Foster suggests that with Listener's parents out of town and no concrete plans, maybe they could invite Sophia over and celebrate just the three of them. Sophia doesn't have the best relationship with her parents, so in the spirit of Thanksgiving, she wants to help her. When Listener doesn't seem very excited about the idea, Foster tells them they can veto. Listener explains they're apprehensive about it being a huge photo op - but Foster says that's not the case: Sophia is one of her best friends, and she's going through a lot so she wants to help her. When Listener is still not convinced, Foster gets annoyed and asks what the problem is. They were dealt a shitty hand at the network with having to balance work and personal lives, but it was a choice made with everyone's consent. Listener expresses jealousy towards Sophia, that isn't going to improve with Foster inviting Sophia everywhere. Foster retorts that she wouldn't get engaged to the love of her life and then abandon them for Sophia a week later. She communicates that she's getting upset and doesn't want to pick a fight, so they'll put a pin in the conversation for now, with her going for a shower and getting some breakfast. Listener, however, insist on talking about it. So Foster tells them she finds it ridiculous that she is being accused of being in love with her coworker for inviting her over for Thanksgiving. She does admit to their relationship taking a bit of a back seat to the drama at work. Listener starts crying, and Foster joins in. Foster wants Listener to trust her when she says that there is nothing going on between them. Listener apologizes for their remarks, while Foster promises to talk less about Sophia and implores Listener to communicate more when something is bothering them. Listener agrees, and gives their consent to inviting Sophia over for Thanksgiving. They share I love you's, and get out of bed.

```
49. You're so selfless

```

The evening of Thanksgiving, Foster and Listener get into bed and reflect on the day. Foster says that when she was walking Sophia to her car, Sophia started crying and thanked her, feeling overwhelmed with the love they showed her. Foster thanks listener for allowing her to invite Sophia, who really needed it. They rock-paper-scissors for who gets to be the little spoon. Foster gives Listener points for being a gracious and beautiful host. Foster eats some leftovers she snuck upstairs in bed, and Listener gets pissed at the prospect of crumbs on the bed. When they want a bite, Foster tells them to go downstairs to the fridge and grab their own. Foster talks about Sophia and her husband, saying that they went through a rough patch years ago, and it seems to be a repeating cycle of MIchael cheating on her with a co-star. Sophia doesn't want people to know because she's embarassed that she took him back. Foster says the conversation gave her a new perspective on Sophia, but then changes the subject to tomorrow's plans. There is a sushi place they've been meaning to check out. They want to go shopping but with it being Black Friday, drop that idea quickly. They relax in each other's arms, with Foster admitting that Listener brings her peace she's never known until she met them - and then saying she's waiting for Listener to fall asleep so she can finish her snacks.

```
50. I told them not to

```

Listener and Foster are eating at the sushi restaurant, and are enjoying each other's company. Foster's story about a funny DM she received gets interrupted by somebody coming up to the table and asking for a picture. Foster is friendly, but declines the picture because she's having dinner with her friend. She picks the story back up when the person walks away - but is soon interrupted again when another person recognizes her as Alex. This person has their daughter with them - a soft spot for Foster. She compromises that if they leave, they should pass by the table and they'll get a picture then. Foster and Listener try to pick up their conversation - but Listener is distracted by the fact that Foster called them 'her friend'. Foster apologizes, saying it's just a security measure and it was a reflex. Foster wants to make up by kissing Listener, but they feel like it's performative. They agree to wrap up and take their desserts to-go. Another man walks up to them, and recognizes Foster from Westbound. Foster is upset, but still tries to be polite to the man, declining his ask for a photo. When he says he's from out of state and protests, she cordially tries to wave him off. When he finally leaves, Foster has had enough and wants to go. Especially when Listener notices the man is taking pictures of them behind her back. Foster panics, and needs fresh air. When they go outside, Foster has a panic attack - overwhelmed by the attention and eyes on her. Listener goes back inside to pay, and while they're gone, Foster is approached by a woman that asks for a cigarette. Foster says she has none to give, and the two talk - with the woman eventually recognizing her from Westbound. The woman says some pretty homophobic things about Alex and Audrey's relationship on the show. Foster tries to stay civil, and to respect the woman's opinion. Foster goes back inside to get away from the woman, and bumps into Listener - who is freaked out by Foster's panic and tries to comfort her. Foster blocks all physical contact, and asks to go to the car and leave, cynically remarking that she is 'living the dream'.

```
51. Seeing you calmed me down so much

```

The night of the sushi restaurant freakout, Foster is playing guitar and singing (*Bloom - The Paper Kites)*, while Listener subtly listens from the doorway. When she's done Listener shows themself, startling Foster. She apologizes for her actions at the restaurant, saying she never intended to hurt Listener's feelings by calling them a friend - only trying to protect them. She doesn't want Listener to be targeted by people, though she realizes that her actions weren't exactly fair. She feels like a horrible girlfriend - and attempted to calm down by grabbing her guitar and playing some music. She laments that she tried so hard to set boundaries earlier, but nobody seemed to respect them. She's a stranger to them, she doesn't owe them anything. Listener asks Foster to play some more, and she complies *(Lego House - Ed Sheeran)*. When the song is done, Foster says she realizes it'll never get better. Every time she goes outside, something like this could happen. She doesn't understand how A-listers function, and feels bad about roping Listener into that life when they never asked for it. Foster asks to skip their tv night and just cuddle in bed, letting Listener be the little spoon. She loves holding them, so she's not complaining. She thanks Listener for being there when she needed them.

```
**52. I'm not sharing you today**

```

Foster and Listener wake up in the morning, and Foster compliments Listener's beauty. She says she needs a shower, but wants to keep her and Listener in bed for the rest of the day because they don't have anything planned. If they don't leave the house, then nothing bad can happen. They contemplate ordering food and watching Criminal Minds all day. Listener doesn't want crumbs on the bed, and Foster tries to compromize with a non-crumbly food like burritos. Listener wants breakfast downstairs, but Foster really doesn't want to leave the bed. She jokes about not needing to go downstairs to get breakfast. Foster kisses Listener's neck and a spot behind their ear. Listener eventually leaves the bed, causing Foster to whine about being left hot and bothered. She starts checking her phone. Listener comes back, and Foster comments on their beauty before pulling them back into bed, and asks if they're going to be good for her. They kiss, and start to have sex.

```
53.????

```

Foster leaves Listener a voicemail, saying she knows they're hiking with their parents, but she really needs to talk to them. Foster is freaked out, but she says she can wait until Listener gets back. She leaves another voicemail to say she's changed her mind, and she really needs Listener to pick up the phone. An hour later, she calls back to plead with Listener - there *has* to be reception somewhere. Neither Listener nor their parents are picking up the phone and Foster is freaking out. She can't see their phone location either because there's no reception. Foster pleads with Listener to call her back and to let her know that they're okay.

```
54. Something bad is about to happen

```

Listener comes home. Foster is instantly by their side, out of her mind with worry. Listener doesn't understand what's going on. Foster has a full-blown panic attack. She says the police called to inform her there was activity on the accounts they were tracking. The stalker apparently has heard about the engagement, and he is angry. Foster says she has a feeling something bad is about to happen, and when Listener didn't pick up the phone, she panicked. She asks whether Listener is sure they weren't followed, with the stalked probably knowing their location and/or license plates. Police have been taking the threat seriously, but Foster feels like something worse needs to happen for them to be convinced. Foster completely loses it, and says that if anything serious happens, she gives Listener her blessing to move on. Foster calm down, and asks Listener whether they need a shower and some food after their hike. Foster gets a bit delirious with panic, and asks for reassurance and kisses. She asks to go to sleep with the lights on, but can't go to bed yet because the police are on their way.

```
55. Do you feel a bit better...?

```

Foster has been slaving over dinner all day - and has made some delicious tacos. Listener gets emotional, and Foster is scared she's done something wrong. Listener says they just threw up, and feel awful. Foster drops everything to take care of Listener, getting them some water and urging them to sit down. They lie down in Foster's lap, with Foster soothing them by stroking their hair. Foster compliments their sweaty look, saying it's 'kind of doing it for her'. She distracts Listener by telling them the story of their neighbor walking something on a leash Foster thought was a dog, until she turned the corner and saw that they were walking a turtle - a fact that amused Foster. She says maybe her and Listener could get a pet - a dog or a cat. Listener wants to name it Carl, but Foster jokes that Carl is more of a turtle name. Listener becomes nauseous again, and Foster hurries to get a bucket for them to vomit in. She soothes them, telling them to not be embarassed. She then hums a tune *(Moon River - Audrey Hepburn)* and holds Listener as they fall asleep.

```
56. If you don't want to see it, look away now

```

Listener tries to sneakily watch a Westbound episode, but Foster hears the theme from across the house while she's in the shower, and sprints to the living room. She urges Listener to scoot so they can watch together. Foster gives live commentary about the episode - criticizing her own performance and seeing how young everybody looked in the first season. She asks why Listener is watching an old season 1 episode, when there is a new season 3 episode coming out tomorrow. Then, Foster realizes that there is a sex scene coming up between Alex and Audrey, and teases Listener with them picking this episode to get hot over the scene. Foster gives them a final warning before it comes up - and starts critiquing the cinematography and audio within the scene. She explains that shooting a sex scene is one of the least romantic things ever, because there are a lot of technicalities involved. Listener jokes that they're jealous of Sophia in the scene. Foster realizes that Listener *did* choose the episode on purpose, and asks them to pause it and join her in the shower. Telling them that after the shower, she can show them exactly how that scene was shot - and that she'd be open to roleplaying as a cop in bed from now on.

### Engagement Announcement & Separation

```
57. I don't care about the consequences, baby

```

Listener wakes Foster up in the middle of the night, to tell them that their ex has sent them a new message. Foster is insistent that Listener doesn't respond and blocks them once again. They're engaged, they have better things to focus on. Foster says she can't deal with that right now, and asks to pick the conversation back up in the morning. She eventually asks to show the message, and wonders how the ex can send Listener messages when they blocked her after the whole book incident. Foster argues that either the ex found a way to contact Listener despite the blocked number, or Listener unblocked her. Listener insists that they didn't unblock her. Foster realizes that the ex sent her message from a burner phone - and it's a picture of the house Foster and Listener live in, along with an emoji Listener says is an inside joke from their relationship. That is how they recognized it was her. Foster tries to make Listener understand that this is a direct threat to their safety. She gets angry at how many people have been trying to ruin their peace lately - and in that frustration, searches for a picture of a photoshoot the two of them did, wearing fake rings. She says both their parents know about it, everybody at work knows about it - she's tired of pretending Listener isn't the love of her life. She types out a message, venting about not giving a fuck about people coming into their lives to try and ruin it - and posts the picture on her socials, announcing their engagement. She feels relieved about not having to keep it a secret anymore, and doesn't care about the fact that she didn't check it with her manager or agent beforehand. She then realizes she'll have to give Sophia a heads up about the announcement - and records a voice message to say that the post might have some repercussions on her, but that she couldn't hold it in any longer. If journalists ask any questions, she should just decline to comment. Foster says she's aware the network might come down on her ass, but nowhere in the contract they signed did it say she couldn't announce she was in love with somebody else. She stops recording. Foster and Listener then talk about which last name they'll pick, then realize that's not exactly a 3 AM conversation - before realizing there's something else their time is better spent on.

```
58. Please don't touch me

```

Foster is up early responding to comments on the engagement post. She says her phone has been ringing all morning with journalists and paparazzi outside. She had to call Laura to deal with them. She's had some bad comments too, but they don't outweigh the outpouring of love by fans of the show. Listener asks if she's already eaten something, Foster says she's running on the adrenalin from the post, and asks if they can go out for lunch together, since she only has to be at work relatively late. Listener says they're going on a Starbucks run, and Foster gives them her credit card to treat themself. After Listener leaves, Foster continues responding to comments. She gets a phonecall from a journalist, and kindly asks them to take it up wiht her publicist, asking for some privacy. After disconnecting, she gets another call, thinking it's a journalist. It turns out to be Sophia, who is freaking out. Foster doesn't understand why; she left her a voicenote to explain her actions. She is convinced there is a loophole in the contract so that she's fine. Sophia is angry at Foster, and yells about her impulsive actions. Foster says the network can't do anything about it, but Sophia isn't so sure. Foster assures her she's going to go to the studio and talk to production to fix it, all too aware that it involves Sophia's future too. Listener returns, and Foster is skittish and panicky. Listener wants to comfort her, but she refuses all physical contact. She says she has to go to the lot to fix her mistake - ending by admitting that she might have just gotten fired.

```
59. I'm going to lose everything

```

Foster is trying to destress in her trailer, when Listener is at the door - surprising her. Foster says she's trying to learn lines, but knows it doesn't matter anyway. She has a lot of scenes, and she can't remember a single line. She says the first thing she did when she got to set was knock at Sophia's trailer - with her being angry at Foster for her negligence. The loophole in the contract Foster was counting on wasn't secure enough - and technically the announcement did breach contract. The executives are pissed off - and told Sophia that they would pull the plug on the spinoff because Foster couldn't follow the rules. Foster is disappointed and angry at herself for messing this up - telling Listener it was a mistake to announce the engagement. Listener is hurt by that, but Foster doubles down. It's not just *her* job on the line, but the job of maybe hundreds of people working on the new show - not to mention Sophia. Listener doesn't want to hear it and confronts Foster with her priorities - but Foster isn't having it. She says she regrets the actions, she should have kept her mouth shut and played the part with Sophia like the network wanted. She spirals into a full-blown panic attack, pleading Listener to not fight with her when she's this upset. Listener, however, has one foot out the door. Foster sees this, and demands Listener doesn't leave her, eventually begging them to stay by saying she can't lose them too. She regrets her phrasing, telling Listener they're everything to her, but she's terrified of losing her job. Listener turns around, and walks out the door - leaving Foster to spiral and panic on her own.

```
60. Do you want me to go...?

```

Foster comes home after work, and is surprised to see Listener in bed. She herself says she doesn't have anywhere to go. Foster says she regrets the things she said, but Listener has to understand the kind of pressure she's under. She says she wishes there was something she could say to fix it, but she knows there isn't. She's also aware of the fact that there are deeper problems than just this contract - she acknowledges that she has done them wrong, but Listener walking out on her when she needed them is a tough pill to swallow. She isn't sure whether she can forgive them for it. She ponders whether the engagement went too fast - despite them being together for six years. Foster says she's going to need time to figure out what she needs exactly, and assures Listener they're always going to be part of that equation, but maybe not as fiancé(e)s. Foster asks Listener to walk away right now if they can't take it, because she can't handle the thought of Listener walking out the door again when things get tough. When Listener doesn't, Foster wants to talk through some things. She reiterates that Listener's feelings of jealousy are valid, but ultimately moot because there is nothing going on between them. Everything that happens is watched by a crew and goes through an intimacy coordinator. Foster says she can't do more than show Listener every day how much she loves them. If they can't handle it despite her affirmations, then that's on them. She reminds Listener of how proud they were when Foster first talked about the spinoff - and that Listener inherently knew that that would mean more Foster-Sophia time. Foster says her job is a big part of her life, and will always be, and it's time for Listener to finally decide whether they're in 100%, or not. She won't blame them if they walk away now, saying she'll mourn that relationship for the rest of her life but she can't have her heart get broken by Listener. The fact that Listener hasn't told Foster the truth about their ex or their struggles towards Sophia stings for Foster, and she says she doesn't understand what she did to deserve it. She wants to be better for Listener, but needs more communication from them to do so. She says she sucks, she works too long, barely has any friends, and isn't a good person because of how she's been treating Listener. Maybe some time apart will do both of them good - to help them remember what it's like to miss one another. Foster says she'll delete the engagement post and grovel to the executives to get her job back. The two of them get emotional over the prospect of separating, but ultimately know it's the best call - and hopefully a temporary solution, until the spinoff is greenlit. Foster knows she'll have to work hard to regain everybody's trust, Listener's more than anyone, but they'll come out of this stronger than ever. She says she'll look for a hotel in the morning. For now, she's willing to sleep on the couch. Listener cuts her off with a kiss, and the two of them have goodbye sex.

```
61. I'm not giving up on you

```

The next morning, Foster and Listener wake up together. Neither of them have gotten much sleep. Foster asks to hold Listener a bit longer. She says she don't know where to go from here. Foster has done some thinking during the night, and commends Listener on being an incredible human for sticking by her through all of this. She promises Listener she'll be better. But to do that they need space, so Foster has decided to move out and look for another apartment. Listener can stay at the house, so they're comfortable. Foster wants to start from square one, and try to rediscover their relationship. She asks whether they can meet up tomorrow night after work for drinks. She urges Listener to drink water and stay healthy and says she can't wait to see where this new level of love will eventually lead them. There are some leftovers in the fridge, and if Listener needs anything they can call, and Foster will come running. Foster gets up from the bed, and puts some clothes into a suitcase before heading to take a shower.

```
62. I don't really know what to say

```

Foster and Listener meet up at night at a secluded spot in the desert, out of the city. Listener has brought snacks, and Foster has already put down a blanket. Foster says they had to drive this far away because of the light pollution in LA, thinking they could lie down for a bit and look at the stars. The conversation starts off a bit awkwardly, but then Foster points out a star that's smaller than the other ones, but shines a lot brighter. She says to her, Listener is that star. She says she has a surprise, showing Listener the telescope she set up and asking them to look through it. Listener sees the star it's pointed at, and Foster tells them she bought that star and named it after them. Because nobody is 'that bright light' in her life. And no matter how far apart they are, she'll always be looking up to see Listener in the sky. She admits it's been rough for her to not be able to talk to Listener 24/7, but these little sneakaway moments are perfect. She says Laura has been looking for an apartment, but she's been staying in a hotel room for the time being. They agree it's better for both of them to stay apart, but it's painful. Nevertheless, Foster is happy to have something to look up to and feel familiar with now. They stay on the blanket for a while, just the two of them.

```
63. I can see you're tired

```

Foster and Listener FaceTime, with Listener being at home and Foster staying at the hotel room. Foster jokes that the hotel staff recognize her because they folded her towels into a swan. She admits it's been rough having grown used to sleeping next to somebody and now sleeping alone - and tells Listener that the network executives gave her another chance, with there being so much interest in the spinoff. In fact, they were looking to prepone production, moving perhaps as fast as within a few months by skipping the 'coma season' they were planning, and just leaving the season finale on an AlDrey cliffhanger to launch the new show. This going faster would also mean that they would be able to normalize their situation faster, so Foster is excited about it. Foster tells Listener that she and Sophia haven't talked. They do their blocking and scenes, but there is zero talk between takes - with Sophia walking out of a room whenever Foster walks in. Foster is hurt by this, but also understands that she hurt Sophia, so she deserves it. The conversation shifts to mundane things, with Foster reminding Listener somebody's coming to fix the dishwasher and Laura coming in to grab some more stuff for her. Listener is falling asleep, and Foster says they don't have to stay up for her sake. The universe seems to finally be giving them a break, saying they can get through the next 30 days. And after that, the next 30 days begin.

```
64. I can't do this anymore

```

Listener knocks at Foster's hotel room door in the middle of the night. Foster is unpleasantly surprised to see them, having to get up early for work. Listener asks whether they can lay down next to her in bed. Foster doesn't understand what Listener is up to - they made the decision to separate physically for a reason. She says she's not mad - just really tired. If Listener just wants to sleep and spoon, then fine. But no more talking - as Foster has to get up early. Listener admits they talked to Sophia - a statement that shocks Foster. She's not interested in hearing what Sophia had to say, because she needs to tell her herself. She's trying hard to keep work and private things separate, and didn't ask Listener to interfere - saying they don't score points just because they tried to fix something Foster didn't ask them to. Foster can't understand why Listener, who complained daily that every conversation was about Sophia, is now meddling. She defends herself by saying it's late and she barely sleeps anymore, and to just go to bed and talk about this another time. Foster takes a jab at Listener about being in love with Sophia herself, before breaking down in tears due to exhaustion and emotions. She tearily pleads with Listener to hold her to finally get some sleep.

```
65. I'm sorry for what I said

```

Foster comes home with some takeout pasta as a peace offering, saying she knows how Listener sometimes works too much and forgets to eat. She apologizes for what she said at the hotel, saying she's been trying to compartmentalize their relationship, and them just showing up at the hotel messed with that process. Sophia acknowledged her at work, something Foster is very relieved about, and she thanks Listener for doing that. Foster admits she's struggling with everything, trying to be better and trying to stay true to herself, but reiterates that Listener is the love of her life and she'll do whatever she can to fix things. She says Westbound is everything she always dreamed about, but lately it's been impossible to enjoy it because it took away the fun she had in their relationship. Foster says she contacted her old therapist to get a session in - and gently asks Listener to do the same thing. The pasta is getting cold, she realizes, and she urges Listener to eat. Says she can't stay to eat with them, because she has a movie premiere tonight. After telling them to enjoy the pasta, she leaves.

### The Stabbing, Recovery & The Video

```
66. ...

```

A news broadcast reports on an unconfirmed attack during a movie premiere. A man, seemingly part of the wait staff, confronted Foster and Sophia, and pulled a weapon. Ambulances were called, but it's uncertain whether anybody got injured. The scary situation has left many people shaken.

```
67. Why are you looking at me like that?

```

Listener rushes to the hospital, and finds Foster in the Emergency Room. She's in shock, and can only tell Listener that she and Sophia were at the premiere, when a waiter came up to them. Foster identifies the man as the stalker, and explains that he got angry about the engagement post. Sophia tried to intervene, and he pulled a knife. She remembers seeing her chest covered in blood and lying on the ground, but weakly tries to convince Listener that she's fine, and that the cut isn't all that deep. She asks Listener to get information on Sophia, because none of the staff are telling her anything. After that, the shock takes over and Foster gets disoriented and confused. She insists on trying to get discharged, which worries Listener.

```
68. She tried to protect me...

```

Foster wakes up in the hospital in the middle of the night, and sees Listener by her side. Listener says that there are quite a few photographers and reporters outside, trying to get updates on their condition after the attack. Foster tells them that she contacted Laura to stop the hotel booking, as she intends to come back home when she's discharged. She also apologizes for how she handled the freakout after the engagement post. Listener tells Foster about Sophia's condition: she's badly injured because the knife punctured her lung. Michael, Sophia's husband, isn't with her, but her father is keeping her company. That consoles Foster at least a bit. She demands to see Sophia, asking Listener to get her a wheelchair. But when she moves too quickly, she pulls her stitches and hurts herself. Worried, Listener tries to call a nurse, but Foster stops them. Foster is worried about Listener and tells them to go home because they deserve a bed to sleep in, not a chair. She hopes she can be discharged in the morning. Foster confesses that as she was lying on the ground at the premiere, bleeding, she remembered how she didn't stay to eat the pasta at home, and that she hadn't kissed Listener goodbye. This sends her into a panic attack, with Listener finally calling a nurse. When the nurse tries to send Listener away to take care of Foster, Foster tries to convince them to stay. But Listener follows the nurse's instructions, and leaves.

```
69. You're the one who's suffering...

```

Listener wakes up next to Foster, who explains that she hasn't had much sleep with the constant monitoring and tests. She convinces Listener that her wound doesn't hurt, and she hopes to go home today. She hasn't gotten any updates about Sophia in a while, which worries her. She confesses to seeing repeat flashbacks of Sophia lying on the ground, bleeding out of her mouth. Foster wants to be discharged to see for herself that Sophia is okay. Listener tells Foster that they've been in contact with police, and that the stalker is locked up. Foster is relieved, realizing that they have a long way to go, but without having to look over their shoulder again, their recovery process can finally begin. She states that she could use some pain meds, and asks Listener to get a nurse. When Listener worries, Foster tries to convince them once again that it's just a 'little cut', and that she wasn't the one that got stabbed through the lung. When the nurse comes in, Foster tries to downplay the pain in an attempt to get discharged quicker. She tells Listener that she's scared of the doctors finding something wrong with her, because she really wants to go home. The nurse comes back to take Foster to do some tests. Listener promises they're going to be there when Foster gets back.

```
70. I'm just dragging you down...

```

Foster asks Listener to come with her to visit Sophia's hospital room. They find Sophia asleep. Foster settles next to the bed, and tells Sophia how stupid she was for trying to protect her. Her dad has been staying in her hospital room since minute one, and Foster tells her that there are a lot of people, including her fans, in her corner, that need her to be okay. Foster stays strong while she's in Sophia's room. Later, when they get back to her own hospital room, she breaks down. She has a panic attack, with Listener trying to calm her down. Foster says that she needs to be better for Listener, and that the police mentioned a trauma specialist. She wants to talk to somebody to help her through this. She asks Listener to come lay down next to her, and the two embrace while Foster repeats the mantra that both she and Sophia are going to be okay.

```
71. It's gonna be just the two of us soon

```

While Listener went to get some food at the cafetaria downstairs, Foster talked preliminarily to the trauma therapist. The conversation rejuvenated her, and she says she feels ready to tackle the problems head-on with her help. A doctor has said that she would be good to go either tonight or early tomorrow, based on some additional tests. Foster shows that she's already making progress by not invalidating her own feelings and health, and tells Listener that they were a big part of the (albeit short) conversation with the therapist, because Foster feels safe and validated with them. She also mentions that she's been doing some thinking about Westbound, and considers taking a longer break from the show to refocus her energy on things that matter. She thanks Listener for being strong for her these past few days, and tells them that maybe therapy is a good option for them too. While Listener was out, she also heard that a big part of the aftermath of the stabbing was filmed, and implores Listener not to seek out the video online to avoid traumatizing themself further. Listener agrees - and the two fantasize about going home and sitting on the couch, watching Criminal Minds and eating takeout just the two of them.

```
72. You can do whatever you want to me

```

Foster is discharged and home, and calls her dad. She understands that her parents are rightfully worried, but wants to focus on her own mental health and asks them not to fly over from Belgium to visit. After the call, she asks Listener to put her phone on the table so she can't reach it anymore. Being stuck on the couch all day is getting really boring. Foster offers to watch some Criminal Minds - but then sees that Listener is sitting far away to avoid hurting her. Foster ensures them that they won't hurt her, just to avoid her side. The episode starts, and Foster tries to watch, but finds that Listener is instantly distracted by her. She stops the episode to kiss, but upon moving, Foster pulls at her stitches and winces. This causes Listener to freak out - but Foster ensures them that it's okay. She announces plan B, and lays down, urging Listener to take their clothes off and do 'whatever they want' to her.

```
73. What is it...?

```

After sex, Foster is catching her breath and ensuring Listener that she's okay. She asks for some water. While Listener goes to get it in the kitchen, Foster sees that Listener receives a few text messages and jokes about them being popular. Listener comes back with the water, and sees the messages. Foster notices the mood shift, and asks what's wrong. Listener doesn't respond, but runs out of the room, slamming the door shut behind them. After that, they play a part of the video that was just sent to them - a video that shows Foster lying on the ground after the stabbing, barely conscious, and being attended to by bystanders.

```
74. This feels like a neverending nightmare...

```

Foster jokes whether Listener got it 'out of their system' when they return to the room. Listener confesses that it was her toxic ex that sent the video, disguising it as another thing to bait and trick them into watching. Listener has a panic attack, and Foster calms them down, being disgusted with the ex's actions and imploring Listener to get a restraining order against her. Foster says that she wants to watch the video now, knowing that Listener has seen it. Listener asks Foster not to, and Foster eventually relents. Foster tells Listener to call the police, and reminisces about the life they had before everything went wrong. She pinpoints the moment everything started to go downhill when she booked Westbound, and considers quitting the show for good. She tells Listener that she wants to be there for them when Listener feels ready to talk about the ex. In the meantime, she gives her phone to Listener, which has the detective's number in it, urging them to call about the restraining order. As Listener steps out of the room to call, Foster takes Listener's phone, and plays the video of the stabbing. She only watches for a handful of seconds, before turning the video off, and trying to stay composed.

```
75. You can stay and listen if you want...

```

Listener walks in on Foster playing the piano in the middle of the night to clear her mind. Foster tells Listener they can stay if they want, and plays several piano songs (*My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion, Comptine d'Un Autre été - Yann Tiersen, an original composition, Burn - Hamilton, Satisfied - Hamilton, The Scientist - Coldplay).*

```
76. We can finally leave this mess behind...

```

Listener comes back home from getting groceries, and checks in on Foster. As it turns out, Foster's therapist and the detective coming to take Listener's statement about the ex are going to arrive about simultaneously. Foster and Listener decide to each handle their business on their own before involving the other. Foster confesses to watching a part of the stabbing video. She once again implores Listener to, whenever they feel ready, talk about what the nature of their relationship was. The conversation is interrupted by a phonecall from Sophia, who has woken up and is calling to check in on Foster. Sophia says Michael hasn't come to visit her once. Foster warns her about the video. Listener asks for the phone, and tells Sophia to hang in there and get better for both of them. This touches Foster, and proves to her that they're finally moving in the right direction. Listener moves to unpack the groceries while Foster goes to take a shower.

```
77. You are so loved

```

Foster asks Listener to massage her shoulders after tripping while getting out of bed a few hours earlier. She didn't want to worry Listener, but convinces them that she's fine. She's excited for Listener to go back to work, and asks once again about Listener's meeting with the police officer involving the ex. The only thing Foster knows is that Listener and the ex had a relationship, they'd met online, and that the first date went really well. Listener divulges that the ex was abusive, both mentally and physically. Foster vows to show Listener every day for the rest of time that she'll show them that they're not worthless, no matter what the ex made them believe. Foster then realizes that with everything that happened recently, *she* has made Listener feel worthless too, and that upsets her. Listener promises her it's a different situation. Foster says that if she ever crosses paths with the ex, she'll kill her for what she did to them - or at least do something that she's 'going to remember for the rest of her life'. Foster then asks for a picture, longing for the moment when the restraining order comes through. Upon seeing the picture, she freezes. Recognizes the woman in the photo as Lena - one of the new writer's assistants on Westbound.

```
78. I almost died...

```

Foster asks Westbound's showrunner Derek to come over to their house and demands answers on why he did not do a proper background check on Lena before hiring her. Acknowledging that with the stabbing and the stalker previously managing to evade the studio's security, she feels completely unsafe. Not to mention that Sophia is still lying injured in the hospital. She gives Derek the ultimatum - either he fires Lena, or Foster walks away. Derek explains that he's in a very complicated position, but Foster doesn't feel like sympathizing. She vows to get to the bottom of how the studio hired her. Derek promises he'll look into it, but his promise alone isn't good enough for Foster. She tells him that he has the burden of knowing who Lena is now, and as soon as she does *anything*, he'll be directly responsible for the consequences. Derek says he'll go talk to the network executives that told him to hire her. Foster asks if he has visited Sophia in the hospital yet, imploring him to do so. If not to be her friend, then to prove that she's not out of a job because of all of this. Foster and Derek mutually agree that they're going to try and find a solution, with Foster telling him that she's not just guarding her own boundaries, but Sophia's as well, since she can't do it herself at the moment. Derek jokes lightly that Lena's incompetence hasn't gone unnoticed - she doesn't even know how to use the copy machine. On that lighthearted note, Listener shows Derek out of the house.

```
79. I need to be better...

```

Listener wakes up in the middle of the night and sees that Foster is lying awake. She explains that she had a nightmare, but didn't want to wake Listener up to deal with it. She's been crying, but shuts down any attempt Listener makes to console her. She explains that every time she goes to sleep, the nightmares and flashbacks of the stalker attacking her come back. Listener tries to comfort her, but Foster asks to not be touched. Explains that her therapist has given her some sleeping pills, but she's afraid to take them. Foster blames herself for not being better by now - her body is healing but her brain doesn't seem to be catching up. She laments that she wanted to be stronger in the face of this trauma - and she feels pathetic for not bouncing back. Then, she shuts down all conversation, and urges Listener to go back to bed.

```
80. Good morning, baby...

```

Listener wakes up and heads downstairs to see that Foster has made (an attempt at) breakfast for the two of them. She apologizes for how she acted last night, and explains that she doesn't want to burden Listener with her feelings and emotions about all of this, acknowledging that their relationship was pretty much already at a breaking point *before* the stabbing happened, and she doesn't want to pile this on top of it. She has a therapist that she can use to work feelings out before Listener should become involved. Foster tries her best to communicate in a healthy way, saying that she doesn't want to ruin what the two have. She also apologizes for not wanting to be touched last night, explaining that in the confusion after those nightmares, every touch feels like the stalker's hands on her. She wants to work on making their relationship light and loving again, and all of this is just a limbo of trying to find a balance to get there. She invites Listener to go for a walk around the block, and laughs as Listener tries her breakfast, and tries to keep a straight face at the quality of it. They agree to walk to a little bagel place down the block as a compromise.

### Holiday Plans & Assault

```
81. I know it means a lot to you, but...

```

Foster feels cooped up recuperating at home and offers to go on a coffee run. Listener offers to come with her, and the two walk down the street. Foster says that she considers flying to Europe to spend some time with her family after the holidays, and before she gets back to work. She also confesses that she's very anxious about going to Listener's family for Christmas, something they do every year. This year however, with everything that happened, she doubts she has the energy to spend time with a lot of people, and is also afraid that some of her family members would want to discuss the stabbing, or the video. She says Listener can definitely go - and she'll just spend Christmas watching TV on the couch. Listener isn't satisfied with that idea either, but they put a pin in the conversation as it's their turn to order. After paying and moving away from the counter, a man (accidentally) bumps into Foster on her bad, healing side, and she doubles over in pain. Listener wants to make a scene, but Foster convinces them it wasn't done maliciously. Foster panics at the thought of the people in the coffee shop filming her in pain, and urges Listener to take her outside. As she catches her breath, the man walks outside with his coffee. Listener can't help themself and confronts the man, causing Foster to quickly de-escalate the situation. Listener goes inside to grab the order, while Foster tries to catch her breath once more.

```
82. I want to do it for you...

```

Foster is on the phone with her mother, and tells her she'll only fly back to Belgium after the holidays. Her mom insists on being worried, but Foster eventually disconnects the call. Listener tells Foster that they talked to their parents, and that they're going to skip Christmas Eve. Foster feels bad - she only asked Listener to tell their parents that she wasn't coming. Listener insists on the fact that where Foster goes, they go. Foster respects their opinion, but tells them that they don't have to change their plans for her. She doesn't want to sound disrespectful towards Barbara and Listener's family. When Listener admits that Barbara doesn't really understand why Foster doesn't want to come, Foster panics and tells Listener that she'll just go with Listener and to forget about everything she said, claiming that she can take it - stating she doesn't want to disappoint Listener's parents. Eventually, Foster lets Listener decide what they want to do. She says she's going to the store to let Listener think.

```
83. Thank you for making me feel like I'm worth it

```

Foster returns home from the store and asks whether Listener has made a decision. Listener claims that Barbara took the cancellation very well, but Foster thinks they're lying to protect her feelings. Listener admits that their mother is disappointed, and is trying to negotiate the two of them coming anyway. Listener is decisive, however, to spend Christmas with Foster, just the two of us. Foster says they can compromize by spending New Years at Listener's parents place. Foster says she brought a lot of stuff to cook, to spend a quiet Christmas together. They have a playful fight over who's going to be the Gordon Ramsay between the two of them, and Foster eventually says she's going to go lay down - being overstimulated from being at the store while still healing. Foster wants to do some 'Netflix and chilling', but after last time, Listener is scared to hurt her. Foster relents, and thanks Listener for sacrificing her family time to stay with her. After everything that happened the past few weeks, Listener could have walked away, but they chose not to, and Foster is very grateful for that.

```
84. You deserve people around you that love you

```

Foster and Listener go visit Sophia in her hospital room, and bring a bouquet of flowers as a gift. Sophia says she can go home soon. Foster says that if there's anything she needs, she and Listener will be there for her, no questions asked. Sophia asks how their Christmas was - Foster explains they celebrated just the two of them, and that it was absolutely perfect. Sophia says that Michael visited her on Christmas to spend time with her. Foster reminds her that he cheated on her, and he couldn't bother to show his face when she was doing really bad. She reminds Sophia that any guy would be lucky to have her, and that she doesn't have to cling to the semblance of love that Michael is giving her. She also gives Sophia the tip that she needs to find somebody to talk to once she's discharged. Listener pulls out some board games that they brought, hoping to spend some time just the three of them. Foster asks whether Sophia would be okay with taking a picture to put online for the fans, showing that the two of them are doing okay. They pose with the board game, and Foster posts the picture. Then, she tells Sophia that the stalker is behind bars, and he won't hurt them again. She reiterates that she doesn't feel comfortable with Sophia and Michael spending New Years together, and offers to spend it just the three of them, at home. Taking it easy, cooking some food and having a few drinks. She says she wants Sophia to spend time with the people around her that care for her, and appreciate her. She doesn't have to answer right away - and the three go to playing board games.

```
85. Baby...?

```

Foster records a voice message to say that Listener won't find her in bed, because she woke up early to go to the studios and talk to some people about getting back to work. Then, time skips to a voice message where she's waiting outside of Derek's office, saying that she intends to give him an ultimatum: either he fires Lena, or she'll walk away from the show. Later, Foster sounds upset in a voice message after the meeting, saying that Lena is apparently very connected to the higher-ups in the network and things might get really complicated. She says she's going to be home for dinner, but wants to clear her head first. The final voice message is Foster hyperventilating and crying, saying that she needs Listener to come pick her up at the studios, because she did something she shouldn't have. The message ends abruptly.

```
86. I've made things so much worse...

```

Foster gets in to Listener's car, and explains that she was walking to her car in the parking lot, when she crossed Lena - who had just arrived. Foster intended on keeping a straight face and leaving, but when Lena said 'something' that Foster doesn't want to repeat, she saw red and attacked her. Foster claims to have hit Lena a few times, before security pulled her away. Foster panics because Derek had just given her a speech about Lena being protected by the network, and is afraid of the consequences her assault will bring - knowing that Lena will spin the story to play the victim of a 'random assualt' in the media. The security cameras wouldn't pick up on the words exchanged, so Foster is aware the images will make her look really bad. Listener reminds her that she gave evidence to the police of Lena's stalking and intimidation, and Foster hopes it'll be enough. The thought of another media circus sends her spiraling into a panic attack, with Listener trying to calm her down. Foster says that if they fire her, there's nothing she can do about it. She feels bad about the attack, but says she only wanted to protect Listener. She asks Listener for forgiveness, but Listener says they're proud of Foster for doing it. They decide together that whatever happens, they'll get through it.

```
87. I need her to be locked up...

```

Foster and Listener are at the police station, where Foster gives her statement to an officer. She tells him that Listener has a restraining order against Lena, but that it was all done recently. She asks for sympathy, claiming that she's still not recovered from the attack at the premiere, and Lena's abuse towards Listener just made her lose it. She says she's not proud of what she did, but talks about the ultimatum she'd just told the showrunner about: either Lena gets fired, or she walks. The officer asks what it was exactly that Lena had said to trigger Foster, but she is hesitant to say it with Listener present. Finally, she admits that Lena told that it was 'too bad that it wasn't Listener with her at the premiere', implying she would have wanted Listener to be injured, or dead. The reliving of that moment makes Foster panic, and she asks for some fresh air. Outside, she tells the officer that no normal person would send a loved one a video of them lying on the ground bleeding out. She also asks, with the circumstances around it, to try and avoid releasing the parking lot security footage to the public. Foster repeats that she wants to keep Listener safe, and tells Listener that she intends to change their New Years plans: she doesn't want to be with Listener and Sophia at home, where they're vulnerable. She wants to be out of town, and asks Listener if they can go to their parents' place after all and call off Sophia. Listener asks Foster to wait, because they want to try and fix something first.

```
88. Are you trying to intimidate me...?

```

Foster is waiting for Listener to get ready to leave for New Year's. As it turns out, Listener has arranged for Sophia to join them with her parents, out of town. Foster doesn't want to be late, knowing they have to pick up Sophia too. While she's waiting, she gets a phonecall. It's Lena's attorney, informing her that Lena intends to drop the charges and settle if Foster agrees with one demand. Foster isn't in the mood to negotiate over the phone, and tells the attorney to take it up with her own attorney. When the man pushes, Foster gets annoyed and tells him to leave her alone, saying that the obvious intimidation attempt isn't working, and she'd like to spend the holidays in peace with her family. When the attorney says that Lena has to spend the holidays in the hospital because of what Foster did to her, Foster can only laugh incredulously and say that Lena knows damn well what she did. When she disconnects the call and explains what happened, Listener asks why Lena would ever settle out of court. Foster explains that she too was confused as to why Lena wouldn't try to milk this story - until she heard the demand that Lena made: Foster has to quit her job, and the show.

```
89. She'll just keep tormenting us

```

Foster, Listener and Sophia are driving back from spending New Years at Listener's parents' house. Foster is giving directions. Listener asks about the phonecall. To Foster, it's a clear intimidation tactic to try and ruin her holidays. Foster tells Sophia about the ultimatum she gave Derek. Listener argues that with the restraining order and all the evidence they have against Lena, it's hard to believe that if they went to court, Lena would turn out to be the sane one. They don't need the settlement, it'll just give her a feeling of power. Foster agrees - she doesn't want to give Lena what she wants, and she'll fight to keep her job on Westbound. Sophia then breaks the silence by announcing she's not sure whether she wants to return to the show after she's healed. Security at the lot couldn't catch the stalker when he broke into the studios, and nobody managed to stop him at the event. Sophia argues that it could just as easily have been Foster gravely injured - or both of them dead. It's obvious that production doesn't care about them enough. If they did, then things would have been handled differently. Foster has to agree to that too. She laments that they both have good points, but draw the completely opposite solution. She asks Sophia if she could be able to change her mind - with the fans needing reassurance and the chemistry they have on screen, it's hard for Foster to imagine it falling away. She has a lot to think about.

### The Note & The Sting

```
90. She won't get away with this

```

Foster comes home from her first day back on Westbound, saying it was a laidback day seeing a lot of her coworkers again for the first time. Most of the people have been extremely welcoming and friendly. She only had one iffy interaction with a man yelling at her from a golfcart that she liked to hit women. Foster rationalizes that most people at the studios don't know the backstory, and because the entire case was kept out of the media, they only know the gossip that Foster punched a writer straight to the hospital. She also tells Listener she told her lawyer she won't take the settlement. She's ready to fight Lena any which way, to finally get rid of her for good. If that means she has to go to jail for having protected Listener, she'll gladly take it. The ultimatum she gave Derek is currently moot, because she's just been planned in for new scenes, and Lena is still at home 'recovering'. As Listener puts on a tv show and Foster grabs a plate of food, she discovers a mysterious note in her sweater - saying 'I Can Help You Get Her Fired'. Foster starts wracking her brain, trying to remember who she's been in contact with that day, before realizing that her sweater was in her trailer most of the day, and pretty much everybody could enter that if they wanted to - who the hell would hide a note like that?

```
91. This means we're going to win

```

Foster is getting ready to head out for her first day back. She says she's given some thought to the note, and can't think of anybody that would have any reason to act mysterious about the situation. It could also still be a crude joke. As Foster heads out, she suddenly remembers that when she walked to her trailer to get changed, one of the executives bumped into her and asked how she was. He then uncharacteristically gave her a hug - something executives usually don't do. Foster says she figured it was the situation being personal for him, but realizes that was probably when he slipped the note in her pocket. She says that if they have one of the executives on their side, they'll finally get a break. She leaves for work, promising she'll try to contact the guy to see what he knows.

```
92. I'm going to go meet him

```

Foster sends Listener a voice message from work, saying she went up to the executives' offices, and found the man. He asked her to come into his office, and gave her a location and a time later tonight to meet up privately. Foster is excited to go, because she knows with his help, they'll be able to take down Lena for good. She won't have time to stop by the house first, so she says she'll keep Listener posted about what happens.

```
93. That psycho bitch

```

Foster returns from her meeting with the executive - Rodriguez. He wanted everything to be hush-hush, but explains that Lena seduced (and possibly drugged) him at a night out, resulting in the two having sex. Rodriguez has a wife and kids, and wanted to keep the meeting a secret. But Lena blackmailed him with video evidence of the night, wanting a job on Westbound in return. Rodriguez complied. Foster asked him why he wouldn't just own up to the night, claim she drugged him so there wasn't any consent, and go to the police. But Rodriguez admitted that there was more - after getting the job, he gave her more information on Foster and Westbound. Things that Foster doesn't want to get into with Listener, but safe to say Lena knows a lot more than she should. Rodriguez is also looking for an out on the blackmail, and asked Foster to 'team up' with him to catch Lena in a sting, getting her to incriminate herself so she can be locked up. Foster asks if Listener is in - but they are hesitant. Is Foster sure this isn't a trap? Foster says there's only one way to find out - and Listener agrees.

```
94. Don't do this, baby

```

Foster coordinates with her assistant Laura about her correspondence. Foster, feeling emotional, thanks Laura for her continued support through the actresses career. After hanging up the call with Laura Foster talks with Listener about the situation with Lena and the plan Rodriguez proposed. Foster feels hopeful about the plan and the fact that Lena hasn't tried to kill Listener leads Foster to think she's all talk. Foster explains Rodriguez's plan. He will invite Lena to sit down with him and Foster at a cafe, possibly Derek as well, ostensibly to talk and figure out if the two women can work together. Rodriguez framed the situation to Lena as him calling asking Foster to apologize to satisfy Lena's ego. The conversation will be recorded in the hopes Lena says something incriminating. Foster believes they only have one chance at this and is trusting Rodriguez who has said he can handle Lena and manipulate her enough into helping Foster's case. At Listener's questioning Foster admits there were other plans that involved them but she rejected them. Foster does not want Listener involved in the plan to deal with Lena due to the long history of abuse Listener suffered at Lena's hand but she didn't want to do anything behind Listener's back so she is asking for Listener's consent. Listener is upset that Foster has decided to keep them out of it, believing Foster is being unfair. Foster is adamant that she is protecting Listener and that their presence at the meeting might put them in danger or cause Lena to act unpredictably. Foster says that she doesn't think that Listener is in the right headspace to make decisions about Lena and their own safety. Listener begins to walk away but Foster stops them trying to talk further. Foster defends her position saying she is doing it out of love. Listener counters that they should get a say in the situation, that it is their past to deal with and not up to Foster. Listener proceeds to walk away with Foster calling after them before they leave entirely.

```
95. It's not safe

```

Foster meets with Rodriguez at the cafe. Foster is hopeful that Lena will show up and they can put the situation behind them. She tells Rodriguez that she relates to what he went through with Lena and that she has seen the pain she has caused Listener. Foster offers to testify for Rodriguez against Lena if he needs it. Foster and Rodriguez proceed to discuss Westbound. Foster affirms that she loves the show, the cast, and the crew but feels like she's trapped in a bubble. Foster explains that the show and the studio lot feel like her actual life where paparazzi and stalkers aren't a problem. Foster claims she doesn't want to walk away from the show since everything else in her life is what's going wrong. Rodriguez questions Foster about Listener. Foster still intends to propose despite the previously cancelled engagement due to the contract, which Lena helped influence. Foster doesn't feel good about cutting Listener out of the plan to deal with Lena, she regrets the approach she took and the fight with them and hopes that the situation will be over once Lena shows up. Foster notes Lena is late to the meeting. Rodriguez asks Foster about the spin-off which she would still love to do especially with Sophia who she is good friends with in real life. Foster doesn't think Lena is going to show up and as she is getting ready to leave Listener emerges from where they were hiding in the same cafe, having overheard the entire conversation. Foster is happy that Listener is there but wonders what they can do now that Lena hasn't shown up. As she questions Rodriguez Listener gets a text from their parents saying that Lena showed up at their house and brought cookies - Foster and Listener immediately realize the danger they're in.

### The Finale

```
96. Thank you for telling me

```

Foster and Listener race towards Listener's parents' house. Foster assures Listener that they're going to be okay, saying that she's just trying to get a rise out of them with the text. Foster expresses guilt - she 'shouldn't have punched her'. She doesn't understand why Listener's parents would just let Lena in like that, after everything she did to them. Listener then confesses that their parents don't know about the things Lena did. Listener finally admits some things that Lena did to them. Foster cringes, fighting her own emotions upon hearing what happened. Foster promises Listener that she won't let anything happen, that everything will be okay. They reach the parents' house, and get out of the car. Their car is still in the driveway. Foster says they should split up and go around the house to look through the windows. If that fails, they'll ring the doorbell. Foster comforts Listener, reiterating that everything will be okay. That she wants them to be engaged and love life again. The two split up, and Foster looks through the nearby windows. Finally - she sees Listener's parents lying on the ground, unmoving.

```
97. No...

```

Foster tells Listener to stay outside the house and call for help. Foster heads inside to check on Listener's parents while L calls 911. Before the call gets answered Lena attacks. Foster is knocked down and calls out to Listener warning them that Lena has a gun. Before Lena can shoot them Listener drops their phone, stumbling backwards as Lena levels the gun at them, and ends up falling in the pool. Foster is heard rushing to fight Lena.

```
98. .

```

Listener finds themselves in a dream state - with a disembodied voice (presenting as Foster) tells them 'there are two doors'. Then - a vision of Listener waking up Foster, who says Listener had a bad dream, and urges them to go back to bed. Listener urges Foster to understand that something's wrong, but Foster waves away their statements as nightmare confusion. During their conversation, words echo. On Foster's words of 'floating away' - the vision changes to a splashdown in a space, with *We'll Meet Again* by *Vera Lynn* playing. A Foster-like figure welcomes Listener. Upon Listener's question of where they are - the figure responds that it's a good question, and asking whether it matters. Listener keeps on hearing auditory hallucinations of timelines where everything has gone wrong and everybody is dead. The figure laments that they could have done 'so much more'. It then says that Listener still has a choice to make. No right or wrong decision. Two doors. Are they going to sink, or are they going to swim? The echoes fade out - and the scene returns to the pool. Foster is fighting Lena - and Listener surfaces.

```
99. You Lose

```

Listener gets out of the pool, and stumbles towards an unconscious Lena, picking up the gun and cocking it. Foster, who had been either knocked out or dazed - sees what they're going to do, and prompts them to reconsider. Saying that she knows Lena hurt Listener, and that they have every right to hate her, but they can't do this. Lena is unconscious - she's harmless, they need to wait for police to arrive. Foster won't let them do this - because they'll spend the rest of their life in jail. Foster gets up shakily, waves away Listener's concerns, and assures them that Lena didn't hit her, or Listener for that matter. Listener just stumbled back, and tripped backwards into the pool, and possibly hit their head. Foster urges Listener to see that they won. Lena is 'defeated'. If they shoot now - they lose everything. They need to give her the gun. Sirens are heard approaching. Foster says she walked into the house, and saw Listener's parents lying on the ground, with cookies on the floor. She went to their dad and checked his pulse, and he was still alive and breathing. Then, Lena came out of nowhere. But none of that matters now - their parents are alive, they are both alive too. Listener finally breaks, and gives Foster the gun. She drops it on the ground, and hugs Listener, as the sirens grow louder.

```
100. Everything - All at once.

```

Foster and Listener get home for the first time after everything. Foster immediately notices that the dishwasher is done, and starts unloading it. She says they don't have to talk about what happened yet. Rodriguez had been blowing up her phone and she just explained everything that happened - which trickled down to the rest of the cast and crew of Westbound, so Lena is definitively off the show. She had contact with Derek, who said she could come back to work whenever, but Foster wants to wait until her face is less messed up from the fight. Listener wants to talk about it, but Foster cuts them off again, saying it's really not a good thing to do this early - it only happened a few hours ago. She just wants to go to bed. Listener insists. Foster starts off by saying that when she saw their parents lying there, she realized that she was either going to protect Listener, or die trying. When Lena pulled the gun, she had a vision of Listener being shot and the pool water being red, and that sight hasn't left her mind. She reiterates that they both did what they had to do to survive - and that Lena was obviously trying to get Listener alone, and brought a gun. That means that she was planning on doing *something*. Foster asks to go to bed and whether they can watch something - deciding against Criminal Minds for the amount of guns. Foster gets emotional, and says that if anything would have happened, she would have had to unload the dishwasher alone. Pictures herself coming home from the failed coffee shop sting, and not seeing Listener's car in the driveway - waiting for Listener to come home but they never would. Her panicking gets soothed by Listener. Listener asks how long they were in the pool for, but Foster can't really respond - everything happened really fast and is a bit blurry, but she insists it couldn't have been more than 30 seconds. Listener explains what they experienced under water. Foster comforts them, and asks whether they would like to take a shower, or she just needs to clean them up a bit. Foster just has to make sure that her stitches don't get wet. Upon Listener's concern, Foster says that she would get 100 million stitches if it meant keeping Listener safe, because they are the love of her life. And if they made it through this, they can make it through everything. Foster says she wants to be the first thing Listener sees when they wake up, and the last thing they see when they go to sleep - but her dramatic speech gets interrupted by Listener laughing at her. That makes her laugh - and cry a bit. Feeling everything - all at once. The two of them go to take a shower.

## SEASON TWO

### New Beginnings

```
101. A big new beginning.

```

...