The morning passed in something of a blur.

Tommy rolled off the recliner when the espresso machine hissed and stumbled to the counter, grunting something that might have passed for a greeting if they were from some primitive South American tribe.

He'd picked up a slight limp from sleeping so contorted...when she made a comment about it he just growled and poured himself another cup of coffee. So Haley ignored him until the heavily caffeinated brew improved his disposition.

They dug into the leftover Thai then headed out before Julia could arrive and make any suggestive comments about them spending the night. Teenagers...

Haley dropped Tommy off at home and headed to her apartment for a much needed shower. And clothes that didn't come from her stash at the café or Tommy's guest room.

In all fairness it had been her room since back when they started construction on the lair. And truthfully, most of the time it felt more like home then her own bedroom. But for some indefinable reason she could never seem to call it hers. Maybe because to do so would be crossing an unspoken line in their relationship...

Whatever the hell that was.

Haley wiped the condensation off her bathroom mirror and stared at her reflection, steam rising off her wet skin.

She lived with the man but she didn't...they fought like they were married but they weren't...she stayed close to offer help but he didn't want any...

When did her life get so complicated? Every aspect seemed like yet another study in working contradictions. Haley wondered...if she really tried, she could probably trace it all back to the day she met Tommy Oliver.

She shoved those thoughts away. No use dwelling. Two days worth of stress and grime were washed away and there was a fleece sweater in her closet just waiting to be snuggled into. That was enough for now.

She quickly changed and pulled her hair back to let it air dry. Today was not a day to worry about style. This was a day for jeans and a cup of hot chocolate. Tiny little comforts where they could be found.

When you had to tackle one day, one mountain, hell one hour at a time just to stay sane...you quickly learned to find solace in the smallest of moments. To savor what the average person might being moving too fast to even notice. A smile that came from genuine humor...a touch that could linger without tension...

It was a good skill to posses; Haley reflected as she curled up in front of her computer and blew at her mug of cocoa to cool it. And she could be grateful for that at least.

Something had been nagging at the back of her mind since this morning...something she couldn't quite put a finger on. Like an itch you couldn't quite reach it distracted her as she drove and kept her from fully enjoying the hot water pounding against her sore back. Haley was just going to go back to Adam's website when her house phone rang.

She closed her eyes. Everyone knew to call her cell phone to get in touch with her. Everyone knew she spent too much time rushing between her apartment, the café, and Tommy's house to hope to catch her here. Everyone but her mother.

Moment gone.

Haley tried to ignore it; she didn't want to deal with her mother's deliberate pig-headedness right now...rehashing the same old disagreements. She just wanted to sit for a minutein solitary peace, check her mail, and drink her hot chocolate. Was a minute too much to ask for?

The flashing red light she just now noticed saying she already had five unheard messages on her answering machine told her that yes, actually, it was too much to ask.

Haley didn't even bother to check the caller ID when she snatched up the phone. "What do you want, mom?"

"Haley where have you been? I've been going out of my mind! Don't you check your messages anymore?"

"I was out."

"All night?!"

"Mom...don't start."

"I was worried about you."

Haley pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling the beginnings of a familiar migraine. One named Helen Sanford. "Ok, first of all...you stopped needing to track my every move about eight years ago."

"I'm not trying to—"

"Second of all," she interrupted, "I can't even begin to say how many times I've told you...if you want to talk to me, call my cell phone. Honestly mother, what is so hard about that? I even programmed the number into your phone's speed dial last Christmas. All you have to do is push a button."

"You should be home often enough to take a simple phone call."

"Well I'm not." Haley didn't try to stop the aggravation from bleeding into her voice. "There's nothing simpleabout my life right now. You should realize I have more important things to do then worry about who might be calling my stupid landline. Which is why we havecell phones."

"The phone isn't the issue here, Haley."

Damn straight it's not...

"Why were you out all night?"

"I was with Tommy." Not that it's any of your business...

There was a long silence on the other end. Haley started to hope her mother might actually leave things alone just this once…

"Tell me the truth, Haley...are you sleeping with him?"

"What?! Oh God..."

Haley let her head hit the desk with an audible -thunk-. She did not just go there…

-thunk-

-thunk-

-thunk thunk thunk-

Percussion therapy not working. The voice on the phone was still speaking and Haley reluctantly pulled the device closer, rubbing her head and hoping someone somewhere would take pity on her and strike the nearest telephone pole with an extra crispy bolt of lightning.

"—throwing your life away. You completely ignore your hard earned education with no explanation why and open some...some coffee shop...now you spend every waking minute with that man..."

""That man's" name is Tommy and I do not spend every minute with him. But I'm there and I will continue to be there when Tommy needs my help. We've been over this a hundred times, mother. Nothing's changed."

"But why you? Couldn't someone else--"

"I chose to be here."

"But you could have done so much more...beenso much more."

"Goodbye mother."

"Haley wait..."

"No. You have to start respecting my decisions whether you agree with them or not."

"I only want what's best for you, baby.'

"But you don't get to decide what that is. It's my call. And for the record...I may sleep in Tommy's house but I don't share his bed. I expect you not to have faith in me...but don't insult his honor."

She set the phone back in its cradle with a soft click. Her head hit the desk again.