Disclaimer: Nothing recognisable is mine.

Pairing: E/C

Rating: T

Summary: Calleigh is seeking a place to stay. (Why? Oh, just come up with something.)

Author's notes: Just something fluffy for the fandom.

He was looking outside the porch window for what had to be the umpteenth time within the last thirty minutes.

Still there.

He fidgeted with the curtain afraid and simultaneously eager to be discovered.

What the f... is she about.

His gut reaction told him to run outside and invite her in the minute he had detected her. But his brains told him to hold off.

God help him, but he knew, he would be dragging her inside if she didn't ring the bell in the next two minutes.

He briefly wondered how long she had been out there trying to work up enough nerve to knock at his door, but then remembered how it had hurt when she had not asked him whether she could stay at his place. No, -told them she would find a room for sure when asked about what she was going to do. He couldn't have offered her to crash at his place. It would have appeared too egoistical after what had happened to her apartment. Besides, the crush he had on her, which really was beginning to show, had made him look ridiculous in front of her too often already.

But this was too much. Although he could not see her in detail, the hummer and the blonde hair behind the steering wheel he would have recognised from five miles and farther.

01:58 … 01:59 … Over. That's it! His resolve crumbled.

He reached for his cell phone and speed-dialed her.

"Hey Eric, what's up?"

"Nothing. Just wondering how you're faring?"

"I'm good, just cruising around."

"Cruising, u-hum." He had sneaked outside and was creeping up to where she was sitting.

"Yeah, you know …"

And she rambled on, but he wasn't really listening, instead he was staring at her fetching figure and enjoyed himself immensely at her expense. She was currently biting on her finger nails; - always a sign that she was nervous. And she seldom was. Aw.

"Uhm, so … you found a place to stay already?" he enquired.

"Well," she nervously pulled at her trousers, "not quite, but I'm at it." She was so cute, really.

"I was surmising that much." His hand grasped the door handle.

"Huh?"

Pulling open the car door his appearance took her completely by surprise. She shrieked – very quietly, of course – and her cell phone tumbled to the ground.

"For heaven's sake, … Eric!"

Her glare and attempt to appear angry amused him greatly.

"That wasn't funny."

Clearly.

He packed his phone away while she was fishing for hers.

"So?"

"So?" she replied. It sounded less detached though. "I have been thinking …"

"Yes?" He crept nearer.

"There's this favour I need returned."

"A favour, okay."

"Yes. You see, a long time ago you asked me whether you could crash at my place …" she trailed of because he had leaned over her and his face hovered above hers within an inch of distance. And just when she thought he was going to kiss her, he pulled away. Dumbfounded she looked on as he continued to retrieve her bag; the one that had previously sat on the passenger's seat just beside her.

He had barely turned around, when the grin he had suppressed with much effort spread sweetly. Confident that she would be following him, he unlocked the front door and stepped back to let her in first. And after her still befuddled but happy form had passed his, he added:

"I'm afraid I don't have a couch though."

And for safety's sake he locked the door.

Fin.