The next morning, Crystal went downstairs to the kitchen to find Shane sitting at the table. He was reading a "Fireflies Den Mother Guide", but when seeing her enter the kitchen put it down. His face made no change from neutral as he looked at her.

"You went to bed early yesterday. Five in the afternoon, in fact."

Crystal, her face changing to a cherry red color, moved over to the refrigerator and stuck her face in it as she responded.

"I was very exhausted. Amusement parks can take a lot outta you, you know? Is anyone else up?'

Pulling out a cup of yogurt, she closed to fridge to find Shane giving her a look he had never given her before. His eyes were gentle and his face expressed concern.

"I know I'm not your mom…"

"Uncle Shane, please don't…"

"But as your legal guardian, it would be nice if you would talk to me about things that are important to you. I don't know how to be a parent, but I want to at least let you know you can come to me."

Crystal sighed and sat across from him at the round wooden kitchen table after pulling a spoon out of the utensil drawer.

"You have something in mind."

"I'd just like you to tell me if you and Seth are dating. You don't need to hide it from me."

"No! No…we're not. Really, we're just best friends."

Shane examined her face. Her face radiated with heat waves, but she looked him straight in the eyes.

"Okay, fine. I'll believe you."

They were silent for a moment. Crystal quietly ate her yogurt as Shane searched his brain for something to say to keep up the conversation.

"So, anything bothering you?"

She lay down her spoon and stared at her halfway finished mini-breakfast.

"The last time I brought up something important to me I practically got scolded for thinking about it."

Shane contemplated her words before answering.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shot you down like that. I know you never really enjoyed being moved around and I completely understand why you want to stay. But I honestly don't know right now, Crystal. I'll see what I can do, but I make no promises. I need to find Ghost and get it to the boss. That is a priority."

"I know, I know."

Just then they could hear Tyler crying from upstairs. Shane got up and went to attend to the baby. While he was gone, Seth came down in his boxers and white t-shirt as Crystal threw away her finished yogurt. His bleached hair was a mess and he was rubbing sleep out of his eyes. Crystal snickered slightly, making him notice she was there. His cheeks tinted pink.

"I feel honored to be like part of the family. You're so comfortable with me that I get to see the glorious sight of boxers in the morning."

Seth grinned at her, seeming somewhat relieved for some reason. She walked past him, ruffling his hair as she went.

"I'm going to get dressed. I believe I heard Shane say yesterday that he was going to teach Zoe how to drive today, so he won't be home and we'll have to babysit Tyler and Peter. Lulu's going to a friend's house."

-Later:-

Crystal and Seth sat on the floor in the Plummer living room. Peter was on the floor before them playing with Lego blocks and Tyler sat on Crystal's lap happily sucking his hand. She unconsciously was bouncing him as her mind wandered. Seth looked at her, examining her from his position beside her, before looking at Peter.

"It was an impulse."

"Eh?"

Torn from her reverie, she looked at him in confusion. Seth blushed, now feeling ridiculous for saying anything on the topic.

"Yesterday. I was being impulsive…you know when…"

"When…?"

Seth took a deep breath and looked at Crystal's face.

"When I tried to kiss you."

Crystal bit her lower lip, her cheeks glowing pink. Seth looked down at the floor and started picking at the carpet beneath them.

"So you were trying to kiss me. I wasn't actually sure."

His shoulders sank slightly as he kept his attention on the carpet. Crystal knew he had taken her comment incorrectly.

"No! I mean, like…I wasn't sure because…uhm, well I don't get why you'd want to. If you were going to kiss someone you did fine. Perfectly great."

A smirk spread across his face and he looked at her. They both started laughing when their eyes met. Peter stared at them for a moment, but decided the Lego blocks were more entertaining. Tyler shrieked happily, flapping his arms like a bird. This made the two teens laugh even harder.

When they had both calmed down a bit, they brought the younger children to the kitchen for some food. It was three in the afternoon and Shane and Zoe would be home soon. Crystal made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for Peter, while Seth fed Tyler his baby food.

"You're really good with kids," she said to Seth, setting down the sandwich in front of Peter.

He grabbed it happily and began eating, smearing peanut butter and jelly on around his mouth. Crystal internally decided to clean him after he was done. Seth smiled.

"Well, I am the man of the house now."

Crystal was happy to hear that he had quickly gotten over his masculine insecurity since the previous day and resolved himself as the man of the house.

"That is impressively mature."

Pride glowed from Seth's face from her comment. Yet the glow faded as he began to think about something.

"You okay?"

"It wasn't just impulse."

He looked resolved, as if he had decided on something and was not turning back. Crystal was taken by surprise.

"We weren't finished with that conversation?"

"No. Crys, you may think this is irrational, but even though it hasn't been much more than a week since we met I see you as more than my best friend. I understand if you don't feel the same and want to only consider me as your best friend. I don't want you to leave before I picked up the courage to tell you that I have feelings for you. Would you consider…going on a date with me?"

Crystal blinked. He liked her. That's why he had tried to kiss her. No spur of the moment. Not just an impulse, but one with feeling behind it. And he had the courage to say it to her face.

"Yeah."

"Huh?"

Seth looked shocked. It was funny to Crystal that he was so shocked. She remembered that he didn't often talk to women before she came along.

"A date. I'd like that. I'm glad that you asked me."

Seth watched her for a moment.

"Do you…like me?"

He was so hesitant to ask, possibly afraid she was just catering to his feelings. She smiled.

"Yeah."

"So…Wednesday?"

"Okay."

They smiled at each other.

"Done!"

Peter had finished his sandwich and was sucking on his fingers. Crystal attacked his face with a napkin.

"Nooo!"

Seth laughed as he tried to run, but couldn't get out of Crystal's grip. Just then Shane and Zoe got back.

"Not bad for your first run."

"Wow, Shane. You're a really good teacher."

The two walked into the kitchen, just as Crystal finished cleaning Peter's face. Seth gave Tyler another spoonful of baby food.

"How was the babysitting, soldiers?" Shane asked.

"Uneventful."

"Good."

Peter ran back to the living room to play with his blocks and Shane took Seth's place. Zoe had gone upstairs to call her friends about her driving lessons. Seth looked at Crystal.

"Video games?"

"You bet."