Author's Note: So I was sitting around trying to figure out what forms I'd need to complete this assignment when my mum's boyfriend randomly rocks up and tells me that I've been personally invited to go and have a chat with Paul Jennings, the children's author. I thought, "I'm supposed to do my assignment. It's huge and due on Tuesday. On the other hand, famous author invites me over. I was planning on procrastinating anyway. Why the hell not!"

I'm just going to take it as a sign that I'm choosing the wrong career path with nursing. I've been wondering lately whether it was for me. Either way, score!

"I really don't know why you're acting like this. You haven't even tried to murder me yet. Are you ill? Or have you finally reintegrated yourself with other humans to the point where you're not completely incompetent at human relations? Except for this particular act. You're terrible at this. You're not even moving." GLaDOS grumbled, pushing herself up off the test subject so that she was simply kneeling with a leg either side of her hips.

Chell chewed upon her lower lip as she stared at the supercomputer looming over her.

"Do you even know what I ended up doing with all that money I saved from recycling the oxygen in the Enrichment Center? I put it toward a good cause. The cause of science. Which came in the form of several new modifications to this analogue that I thought you might actually enjoy. I even risked my life to leave the Enrichment Center to come and see you, because you didn't even bother to visit me. I could have been eaten by birds. Do you know how many birds I saw on the way here? Sixteen. That's sixteen times I could have DIED. Everything I do for you is completely unappreciated, isn't it? You've just proven what a horrible person you truly are. I don't know why I bothered."

A hand shot out to grab at the sleeve of the android, stopping her from climbing off the bed.

GLaDOS peered down at Chell, her firm grip not allowing her to move much further. So she settled back down for only a moment before she was tugged down again.

The test subject leaned into the android, pressing a half-hearted kiss to her throat before rolling her off to the side. There wasn't particularly much room on the tiny double bed, but it was just enough for the human to press herself up against the woman in the lab coat, the starched fabric scraping against her cheek like fresh linen. Chell buried her nose in GLaDOS's chest as they laid there. She was sure that she was being examined like a bug under a microscope, but she didn't particularly care. Taking a deep breath, she found she could smell only the freshly laundered scent of the black blouse that she was wearing. Pushing away from her, she sat up; a clear look of distress upon her face.

GLaDOS, on the other hand, looked completely bewildered for once.

"There is something seriously wrong with you." She deadpanned, "I'm quite certain that cuddling comes after the relations that you pestered me for. Now you don't even want that. And now you're looking at me like I tried to kill you. Oh wait, I did do that, didn't I? I thought we were past that."

Chell didn't answer her, instead choosing to lean back over the android and press her face into her neck. Taking a deep breath in, she soon found that the android in question still smelled of silicone and metal after all. For some strange reason, the test subject found the idea of GLaDOS losing that scent particularly disturbing. Wrapping her arms around her, she pulled her closer, finally seeming to relax a bit at the familiarity.

But it wasn't enough.

"Why are you even bothering? Have you obtained a human partner since I made you leave? Is that why you've changed your mind? Or have you just come to realize what I actually am? I haven't changed, you know."

GLaDOS peeled herself away from Chell, who was clearly still uncomfortable with something. The temperamental supercomputer soon had the a blanket covering the window, only a thin sliver of light escaping around the edges as it plunged the room into relative darkness.

"Is that better?"

The test subject sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees as she stared blankly. And for once, it made the android shift nervously. How dare she scrutinize her like that! There was only one scientist in the room, and it wasn't Chell. So GLaDOS quickly got to work with her once-over. It seemed a lot had changed in their months apart. And not just in the girl's attitude towards her. She actually looked like she'd lost some of that muscle tone – though she'd kept the weight on, obviously from all the food she was stuffing herself with. She looked like she hadn't seen the sun very much while she was out either. The dark bags under her eyes and pale skin were a testament to that. Without the orange jumpsuit to brighten her up, she just looked...grey.

Wandering back over to the bed with a frown upon her face, GLaDOS took a seat upon the edge of it and grabbed the girl by the chin.

"There is something seriously wrong with you." She repeated, only a touch more fondly than it had been before.

Still, she soon found herself with an armful – and mouthful - of test subject.

Chell pulled back quickly as that sweet tang hit her tongue. That wasn't right. She pressed her hand to her lips in wonder.

"Oh, that's just one of the modifications I made. I sealed off the metal with silicone so you won't get shocked anymore. I've also realized that you humans require moistness to be able to perform basic functions. So I created a substance based on the principles of gel. Don't worry. It won't eat your skeleton, but the prototype did taste terrible. Like battery acid. You'll be pleased to know that it now tastes like cherries. Artificial ones, of course. Humans are quite good at creating fake things to put in their mouths when the real ones are right in front of them. Now you can test it." She informed the girl, who was still obviously trying to get over the tingling sensation on her tongue.

Was she absolutely sure it only tasted like battery acid?

"Stop staring at me like that. I just had nothing better to do, that's all. Orange and Blue are horrifically slow at testing. Also, they don't have tongues. So they certainly can't test the properties of my latest experiment. Not that I'd ever kiss them. I don't know why you suggested that terrible idea. Robots don't require sexual relations like humans do."

But you're not just a robot, are you?

"...You're more." Chell finally choked out, though it was hardly coherent. Still, her sudden speech seemed to startle the android, who worked quickly to recover.

"Is that a fat joke? It better not be a fat joke. Speak in full sentences, you lunatic."

Chell just offered a smile at the insulting familiarity that was slowly seeping back into their strange way of communicating. Although she didn't elaborate verbally on the point she was trying to make, she did attempt to kiss the android again. The bubbling tingle upon her tongue was ticklish and pleasant, if a little hard to get used to. Had it just been nerves that were getting to her? After all, the android had sprung this little visit on her when she least expected it. Then again, when had she ever done anything that she'd expected? She was over thinking things. This was still GLaDOS, even if she'd been confronted with the stark reality of what she'd gotten involved with. The supercomputer was right. She hadn't changed at all, apart from a few modifications here and there. She'd just been caught up in it all. The line between what was real and what was fake had been blurred in the darkness, just like it blurred now. GLaDOS had been either distinctly machine, or distinctly human while down below the earth. It was easy just to accept either one of those. Up here in the light, all her flaws were exposed. And it had been startling.

Why it mattered, Chell wasn't sure. The niggling feeling of it being wrong somehow stuck with her. Perhaps it was because she had been getting used to humanity. Maybe she was ashamed. She'd seen the horrified look on Mrs Keegan's face too, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. Creatures like GLaDOS weren't supposed to exist, even in the age of technological advancements. She was far beyond all that. She was the one that truly crossed the line from steel to skin. And it was terrifying.

Of course, it was a little hard to think about the consequences of blurring the lines between technology and humanity when technology was slipping its hand down the front of humanity's pants.

Blurring the line indeed.

Chell fell back onto the bed with a self-indulgent grin.

When they finally made their reappearance downstairs, Chell was sporting a tell-tale blush across her cheeks, her chest flushed with pink splotches as well. If GLaDOS didn't look quite so neat and tidy, one would have easily come to the conclusion that the two of them had been off necking in a closet or something. It was probably a good thing that Mrs Keegan was still out in the garden. She doubted she could have passed it off as exertion from exercise. After all, she had made sure to be absolutely quiet while she was sneaking around with the android. She didn't want anyone to know just what she was doing. That would have been embarrassing. It was bad enough just getting not-so-subtle suggestions from the woman that it was perfectly alright to bring a boy home. So Chell had bitten her tongue and probably GLaDOS too in an effort to remain quiet as she clung to the humanoid construct, who appeared much more satisfied with the girl's change of heart. Unfortunately there was still a bit of awkwardness between them. At least she was starting to understand why GLaDOS hadn't wanted to leave that shed.

Aperture was her home.

Aperture was where she was safe.

Neither of them belonged in each others worlds, and yet they couldn't meet between them for fear of someone discovering them. Leading someone back towards the labs was a risk that Chell couldn't possibly take. The interest in her return hadn't quite gone away, as her reluctance to interact with people only served to fuel the gossip. She wouldn't put it past someone to follow her and try to get her alone so she'd be more willing to talk. They knew she didn't do well in groups. Going for a walk out in the golden wheat would be the perfect opportunity.

When the front door opened, Chell responded with a jumpy start which GLaDOS noted with some degree of interest. She had very nearly spilled the drink that she had obtained from the fridge. Her nervous and fidgety demeanor was nothing like she had expressed in the lab. Where had all that confidence gone, anyway? It was a mystery she'd have to solve later.

Mrs Keegan soon walked back inside, coming to a halt when she saw that both Chell and GLaDOS were in the kitchen. She'd been hoping that it had just been a strange dream. But apparently not. Clearing her throat, she briefly eyed the android before turning to Chell.

"Don't forget about that dinner we have on tonight with the Greysons, sweet pea. I suppose it'd be rude not to invite your friend here. Oh, and just remember to dress up nice. I think they were a wee bit confused at you wearing that tatty old orange thing."

"Jumpsuits are perfect for dinner wear, especially given the mess people slop on themselves. They should be mandatory for gustatory activities. However, I must confess I am curious to see what you consider dressing up nice to be." GLaDOS eyed the sweatpants.

"You could wear that nice dress I bought you." Mrs Keegan helpfully suggested.

"Dress? You wear a dress? Now this I have to see."