Authors Note: Okay I know the last chapter was a little unrealistic, (Rose having no previous interaction with the Camdens before other than reading in the church) I'm gonna try to explain a few things in this chapter. Oh, and I don't know how soon I can get around to rewording the text in the first chapter, but for convenience sake lets just say Rose is someone who was active in a lot of church run charity things and the family was familiar with her. Just never had her over, type of thing. K? That better?

Chapter Two:

Complicated

"Rose?" Simon started towards her, but she was too fast for him.

Shaking her head as she made her way out of the room, "I shouldn't have come here… Bakemo.." Simon didn't catch the last word. It was obviously another language. Not too surprising. When Lucy got really into a language she'd say a word or two non of them could understand without realizing it. (I don't know what language she takes! Sorry!)

Trying not to make a sound Rose crept into the room she'd been assigned to share with Lucy, since Mary wasn't home their was an extra bed. She and Lucy had had a few conversations at school once or twice, so she wasn't completely unfamiliar with the girl, who had inconveniently been rendered sick that day.

In one fluid motion Rose grabbed her overnight bag and made her way for the door. She'd almost made it when Simon cornered her on the stairs. "If your house was just robbed I don't think it's a very good idea for you to be running off their so quickly." He started.

"You don't understand!" she whispered a little desperately. "He's psychotic! Everyone he finds me associated with.." she stopped herself, shaking her head. "I never should've let my curiosity get the better of me…" She tried to push past Simon, but he wouldn't let her, it was all too confusing.

"What are you talking about?! Who is this he?!" he yelled a little louder than he meant to.

Lucy, who really didn't want to move, but was disturbed by a bunch of noise outside her door finally rose up and poked her head out. "What's going on?" She asked, coughing into a handkerchief.

"You don't want to know!" Rose said to both Simon and Lucy, making a break for the door.

Simon latched her disappeared down the street while his sister's voice echoed in his ear. "Simon… what's going on?"

He closed the door and shook his head, " whish I know… The only thing I'm sure of is this could get very complicated, very fast." Lucy nodded remembering the many other fixes and what not their family had somehow found themselves in over the years. Why should this time be any different?

~~~

Simon wandered down the street with no particular destination, he just needed to think. Events had gone ridiculously fast over the last few days. His parents had returned only a day after their departure, with good news. Nothing was terminally wrong with Mary. Instead she had fallen victim to one, while not so harmless, still no so uncommon illness. She would need to have her appendix removed as soon as possible. They had all held a little 'family conference' and decided it would be better for everyone if Mary came home to recuperate from the sugary, both to easy her parents worries and to keep the burden of caring for her after the surgery from her grandparents.

That had happened rather quickly, but at least it made logical sense. If everything went as planned Mary would be home in a few more days, as soon as she was well enough to fly. Before Simon's thoughts could turn towards the other thing that was bothering him, he stumbled into someone who he hadn't seen walking down the sidewalk. They both stumbled, but neither fell. Simon looked up and… speak of the devil.

"We have to stop meeting like this," Rose said with a small smile, "One of us will end up with a concussion." A ghost of a smile tugged at Simons lips. They did seem to , quite literally, 'bump' into each other. He simply looked back at her, with a lack of anything t say. She glanced down for a second before shifting to look him in the eyes again. "Actually I'm glad I ran into you," she said calmly, "I was just coming over to… apologize for being so…" she seemed to search for the right word, "melodramatic, the other day… It was uncalled for."

Simon smirked a little, "It's not a big deal. With my siblings and my dad's job I've seen a lot worse melodrama." She nodded politely and there was a slight silence before he asked, "Is everything alright at your house?"

Rose nodded, "Nothing a little cleaning couldn't cure. Whoever it was didn't find what they were looking for, and wasn't the person I mistook them for."

Simon nodded and they started off again, in the same direction, but again with no particular destination. "Who did you think they were?" he asked curiously.

"It's not important… I was jumping to conclusions." Simon nodded again, accepting her answer for what it was. A polite was of telling him to drop the subject. They continued on in silence for a few more moments.

"How's Mary by the way? She's not to badly hurt is she?"

Simon shook his head, "No, simple appendicitis, well.. If you can call appendicitis simple… She'll be coming home to recover in a few days."

"Oh?" said Rose perking up with sudden interest. "Do you think she'd mind a visitor? I mean, I know I'm not exactly her friend, I've only seen her a couple of times at church events… but I would like to wish her a speedy recovery."

Simon thought about it a moment. Even though Mary seemed to have improved some, he wasn't sure if she was all to fond of the family even still. There might be some lingering bitterness even if she did accept and understand that her family had done the right thing. Generally, however, Mary was a nice girl, who appreciated concern and good character. "I don't see anything wrong with that," he said at last. Rose smiled happily, but he continued before she could say anything. "I'll call you after she's settled in."

"Alright," said Rose pausing in her tracks. He stopped as well and turned to face her. "Well this is were I turn off," she said indicating the street that would lead her to the edges of Glean Oak. "You shouldn't have any trouble finding my number. Shields isn't a common last name around here." Waiting for him only to nod with mild surprise she took off down the road towards home.

As Simon turned to make the journey home, he thought over the odd chance meeting. Whenever he'd agreed to call a girl before there'd always been a fumble for paper and writing utensils and an exchange of numbers. It was nothing so big, just an odd thing to wonder over on the way home. As he made his way home he acknowledged that he still had a feeling that another complicated situation would develop somehow, it always did. He looked up to the sky with a sigh, whatever it was, he felt confident that God wouldn't give the Camdens anymore than they could handle.

Authors Note: Well there you have it, the second chapter. All and all I think things are progressing fairly well. ^_^ Thanks to those who reviewed. ^_^ I really appreciate the honesty.