"You look tired." Mary observed as she picked up one of the children after her class a month or so later.

"I've been busy. I've had to pull extra shifts at the centre…" Mathea admitted as she cleaned up, she didn't share anything else about why she was working more.

"Why don't you stay for dinner… Winslow always has extra for those that visit." Mary offered and Mathea looked thoughtful. The last real meal she'd eaten in the past few days was macaroni and cheese that she had stretched into two meals. They fed her sometime at the centre if she pulled a double shift but the food was always cold. Winslow prepared solid food, and it was always hot. Mathea paused before answering, waffling between staying and heading above.

"Thank you for the invitation. I think that I would like to stay actually." Mathea smiled and Mary nodded in agreement.

There was quite a crowd out for dinner, and Mathea enjoyed the company. It was after dinner when some of the older youth suggested some games and offered for Mathea to stay too. Mathea felt warm and full, and rested her head in her hand to watch.

"Mathea?" Father had walked down the tunnel to quiet the youth down, and noticed that Mathea had fallen asleep.

"Oh…" Mathea jolted awake and smiled at Father. "I must have closed my eyes for a few minutes. It must be getting late." Mathea looked at her watch and nodded. "I should be going home."

"Maybe you could spend the night. Vincent just returned from a patrol and noticed that it was snowing. You could head home in the morning." Father suggested, and Mathea was about to protest, but realized that her apartment would be cold, and she wasn't interested in spending the night shivering. "Come, we'll prepare a guest chamber for you." Father had already started to think that Mathea would be safer below, she hadn't said anything to anyone, but they all were becoming more aware of her situation above. Mathea nodded her head and followed Father out and down the tunnel. The chamber was warm and inviting and it didn't take Mathea long to climb into some bed clothes and crawl into the bed.

"When do we tell her that she is welcomed to live below with us?" Mary asked as she came out of the chamber. Father shook his head and started back to his own.

"Her situation above isn't very good. She is from a line of individuals that don't ask for help, they provide it. Perhaps we just provide her with some possible options and let her choose." Father sat down and Mary looked concerned.

"Samantha was visiting last week, and said that her apartment is cold. She didn't want to take her coat off, and Mattie didn't suggest it either." Mary started.

"She has friends at work though. They've been trying to help her out too. She has to make these choices on her own, or she won't be happy."

"She's always happy though. Full of energy and life." Mary agreed. "I would hate for her to loose it." The two of them sat in the quiet.