"I don't see why we need to make an announcement," Hal complains, low, as he makes his way down the stairs. Tom shakes his head from in front of him, turning to face him at the final stair.

"It's not all tha' is it? 'S jus' Annie. Tha's alrigh' isn'it? I mean, 's not-" Tom starts, his voice casual though his eyes are almost plaintive. Hal cuts him off with something that's almost a scowl.

"Of course not. I just don't see how it's any of her business, that's all."

"Who's business would that be then?" Annie asks, her arms crossed as she draws near them, nodding to the couch. "Off the stairs then, trust me you don't want to play on those."

Tom moves obediently to the couch to sit down while Hal turns instead, heading to the table he had claimed for his dominoes, and sitting down.

"I asked you a question," Annie tells him, voice firm, and he ignores her, opening the case with care and clearing away the specks of dust on it. She narrows her eyes but gives up as he lifts his first domino of the morning, whirling to face the couch instead. "Tom-?"

"..Hal..?" Tom asks, his gaze moving back and forth between the other two, cautious. Hal sighs harshly, his hand shaking as he places a domino that he's gripping too hard.

"Go on then," he orders him, his tone flat and his attention clearly elsewhere.

"Well..?"

"Righ'," Tom starts, sitting up a little straighter as he looks at Annie. "…well, first'ive gotta check. In the 'ouse rules-" Annie nods, and he continues, "Tha' part abou' not bringin' 'ome any girls.. Issat abou' makin' sure no'un sees a floatin' baby or no relationships? An' if it's the last one, does it jus' count the ladies, or blokes, too?"

Annie watched his expectant gaze and frowned slightly, considering, just for a minute, the possibility of seeing if she could actually read his mind if she tried. She decided that would be rude. "I definitely don't want anyone that we don't know we can trust one hundred percent in the house. It's dangerous, for Eve. Dating probably isnt a very good idea either, with everything that's going on… But why do you ask, Tom?"

"We're courtin', Hal an' me, " Tom says, finally, straight to the point. Somewhere into his first curve, Hal laughs almost silently at the word choice, and Annie blinks at Tom slowly, but then smiles at him in surprise.

"Oh yeah? Who?" She asks, confident that the idea the sentence had given her couldn't be quite right. Tom just looks at her for a moment before opening his mouth.

"…us. Hal'n me, like I jus' toldya. I figure tha's alrigh, iss'nit? On accoun' of Hal's not a girl, an he's living 'ere an' all. But I thou' I'd ask first, ev'n though 's not actually first, an' we're sort've together already an' prolly not goin' to stop if you say. But 's-" He's cut off by a pleased laugh from Annie as she claps her hands.

"It's fine, Tom," she tells him, and spreads her arms, "Come here-" he obeys, letting her hug him as he remains somewhat baffled at her reaction, and then watches wide-eyed and almost frozen as he watches her head towards Hal.

Tom doesnt have a chance to speak before Annie has made it over to hug Hal, and he winces at the sound of the dominoes hitting the table when Hal knocks them over in brief shock, and sits staring, concentration lost and frozen for a split second before he raises his voice, strained and irritated, "Annie!"

"Sorry-" she starts, letting go of him and moving to reach for the dominoes and undo the damage she'd done. "Just got a little excited, it's like the odd couple, and the two of you are just-"

"S'alrigh', Annie," Tom tells her, taking her wrist easily and watching Hal's face with momentary concern. "I've got'it. Hand wi' tha', Hal..?" He asks, carefully, and Hal lets out a long breath before nodding in his direction and trying to still his hand enough to put the fallen dominoes away so they could start anew.

"If I knew you would be so excited I would have had him wait until I was finished to tell you," Hal says, tearing his attention from the dominoes long enough to glance sideways at Annie. His words are lighter than the tension in his voice, a barely noticeable acceptance of the apology.

"…I'm thrilled for you. Really," she tells them, with a small smile, the apology caught. Tom glances back, thanking her with a quick smile before she backs off, and goes to finish getting breakfast ready.