The door creaked open slowly, light from the hall spilling onto the bed and the small form in it. Feet padded silently across a purple rug, and the bed dipped as more weight settled onto it. Verdant eyes traced over the delicate features of the sleeping girl and soft pink lips curved into a gentle smile as slender fingers reached out to brush the dark hair from her pale brow. A small, freckled nose wrinkled in response to the touch and green eyes blinked open blearily.

"Mommy!"

A low chuckle slipped from Sarah's throat as her daughter launched herself forward, latching her arms around her mother's neck. "Hey, sweetheart. Did you have fun with Stacey?"

Katie nodded. "Yeah… But I missed you at bedtime."

Sarah struggled to keep the smile in her voice, "Did you?"

Katie nodded again and sat back with all the seriousness an almost-six-year-old could muster. "She's not good at bedtime stories like you."

Sarah laughed and pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead. "I'm sorry sweetie, I wanted to be here but something came up at work and…"

She broke off with a sigh.

Katie hugged her again and said, "S'okay mommy."

Sarah smiled again and wrapped her arms around Katie.

"But," she started, levity in her tone, "I have the day off tomorrow!"

"Really?!" Katie pulled back excitedly.

"Yep!" Sarah nodded enthusiastically. "We could go to the park, or we could watch a movie, or-"

"Could we go see Uncle Toby?!"

"Maybe," Sarah laughed, "but I think he has school."

"Aww… Could we g-" The rest of Katie's question was made unintelligible by a jaw-cracking yawn.

"We can decide what to do in the morning, okay?"

Sarah stood up and tucked Katie back into bed. "It's late, and little girls who want to have fun tomorrow should be sleeping."

Katie snuggled into her cocoon of blankets, "Okay."

"I love you," Sarah kissed her cheek and walked to the door, pulling it most of the way shut behind her.

"Love you too, Mommy," came the mumbled reply.

"See you in the morning."

Sarah sighed and walked toward the sleepy teenager in her living room.

"Sorry for keeping you so late, Stacey. I hope I haven't gotten you in trouble."

The girl grinned sleepily and hid a yawn behind her hand. "S'not a problem Ms. Williams. My parents told me they'd be out late tonight anyway, and I don't like being home alone."

Sarah grabbed her wallet out of her purse and pulled out a few tens, "This oughta cover it. I wish I could-"

Sarah caught herself before she could complete the thought and gave Stacey a nervous smile and a vaguely sheepish shrug. "If wishes were fishes, right?"

Stacey smiled as she takes the money. "Any spending money is better than no spending money. Besides, now I can go see that new Brendan Fraser movie next weekend."

"The one about the Mummy?"

"Yep."

"You'll have to let me know if it's good. My little brother's birthday is coming up, maybe we can go see it."

"Yeah? How old is he?"

"He's turning fourteen, so just a little older than you. I'll walk you to the door."

Sarah waited for Stacey to unlock her door and get inside before retreating back into her own apartment. The likelihood of something happening to the thirteen-year-old in the fifteen feet between their apartments was minimal at best, but one could never be too careful. She locked the door and sighed, pulling her hair out of its bun as she walked to her room. Her pale blue polo and black slacks landed on the floor in a pile that got kicked into a corner as she pulled clean clothes out of her dresser.

Deciding that a shower was just honestly too much effort after over eight hours on her feet, Sarah slipped into the fresh clothes and walked back toward the main area of the apartment. She angled herself toward the fridge, intent on putting some food in her stomach before collapsing into bed. Eight hours. Sarah usually only worked four-hour shifts at a time, but one of the other waitresses called in sick, and her boss asked her to cover. She hated getting home so late, but at least it meant more money.

'Katie will be starting school this year, I'll be able to work the day shifts then. Maybe I won't have to work so late after that…'

Tap.

Sarah shook herself from her thoughts and paused in the center of the living room, uncertain if she'd actually heard something. Silence filled the apartment. Shrugging it off as her imagination, she took another step toward the kitchen.

Tap tap tap.

She froze and turned her head to stare at the sliding door that led to their tiny balcony.

Silence.

Tap tap tap tap.

She padded over to the door cautiously, standing to the left of it and twitching the edge of the curtain aside so that she could look out. Her brow furrowed in confusion.

'There's nothing there…'

A sudden flicker of movement drew her eyes down to a pair of-of bright black eyes set in a heart-shaped, white face. She jerked backward with a startled yelp, and the curtain fell to cover the door again. She stood there, staring at the curtain, a hand over her mouth and her heart pounding wildly. A few seconds crawled by. Then-

Tap tap tap.

Sarah hesitantly reached out a hand that was definitely not shaking and lifted the curtain again. He was still there, perched on the rail, as close to the door as he could get, head cocked slightly to one side as he peered up at her. Green eyes narrowed suspiciously. Black owl-eyes blinked back innocently.

She briefly considered ignoring him. She really did. But she dismissed the thought immediately because she knew he probably wouldn't let her. And, not that she would admit this, because her curiosity would drive her insane if she tried. She lifted her hand to the latch and fixed him with a rather pointed stare, jerking her chin at him. He took the hint and moved to the rail directly opposite the door. Nodding in satisfaction, she lifted the latch and pushed the door open just far enough for her to slip out, turning to pull it shut behind her. She drew a breath in through her nose and let it out quietly, turning again to look into a pair of mismatched crystal blue eyes.