"Thank you again for dinner," Ross said as Ruth gave her a hug.

"Thank you for coming and bringing him," Ruth replied quietly as Wash stood talking with Khaza. "I'm sure he puts up a fight to come."

"He's getting better," Ross chuckled.

"If you need any help or anything in the future, please call me," Ruth gave her a serious look.

"I will. Thank you," Ross smiled at her before turning to leave with Wash and Preston. The three of them left and headed to the embassy gates where a shadowy figure was waiting against the fence. "Seriously."

"What?" Wash asked looking down at her before following her line of sight. "I thought you said you were calling her when we got home."

"Apparently she couldn't wait," Ross sighed as they got closer. "Is there a reason you couldn't wait for me to get home?"

"Yea," South huffed. "Meeting you here was easier than making you walk all the way home just to turn around and go to the club."

Ross sighed before looking at Wash, "I will see you at home."

"Wait, what? You're not seriously going to the club," he said giving her a look of disbelief as South scoffed.

Ross gave him a pat, "We won't be long." He went to say something before she looked over at Preston. "Walk him home for me?"

"Sure," Preston shrugged. "Come on Uncle-sir."

Wash looked at South, "Do not keep her out late."

"Ross is an adult, Wash," South rolled her eyes. "She doesn't need you being all macho and shit. I will get her and the bundle home safe and sound."

"Wait for me at home," Ross said before going up on her toes to kiss him. She turned to head in the direction of the club, South following her. "So what's the big problem that it couldn't wait for me to get home?"

"Your home is next to my home where I don't really want to be," South admitted quietly.

"Is there a reason why?" Ross asked slowly. South didn't answer. "Are you mad at him?"

"Maybe."

"What he'd do?"

"He lives there." Ross gave her a confused look. "Can you wait until I have a drink in my hand?"

Ross rolled her eyes and nodded. They walked in silence the rest of the way to the club and grabbed seats at the bar. After saying hello to both Tucker and Kai, Ross turned to look at South.

"Start talking or I start walking," Ross leaned backed in the bar stool and crossed her arms. "What is your issue?"

"The fact that I apparently have an issue," South grumbled.

"Explain."

South swirled the straw in her glass, "I think I made a mistake."

"How so?" Ross asked patiently.

"Did you have a hard time adjusting when you moved in with Wash?" South asked giving Ross a curious look.

"There were a few things we both had to get used to," Ross shrugged. "That's all normal though. Every couple goes through that kind of readjustment." South nodded. "Is that your problem? You're having issues adjusting to living with him?"

"I just…I don't know," South huffed before finishing off her drink and pushing it out to get refilled right away.

"What's so hard?" Ross asked. "You love him don't you?"

"Don't say that word to me," South growled.

"You do. Just because you don't want to say it, doesn't mean it's true," Ross stated matter of factly.

"It's not and if you bring it up again, pregnant or not I will punch you," South glared. Ross put up her hands in surrender. "I'm just used to having my own space without someone else being there. Not that there aren't times when having him right there is nice…I'm just not used to anyone hanging around after they are no longer needed."

"You're allowed," Ross shrugged. "For someone not used to it, I see how it can be strange."

"Was that something you had to adjust to?" South asked after a minute.

"I was staying overnight with Wash before we even talked about me living there," Ross shrugged. "Weren't you and Locus staying over with each other?"

"Not really," South sighed reaching up to push her bangs back. "He would try to make me stay…which it would work until I knew he was asleep. Then I'd slink out."

"You still doing it then?" Ross asked. "You're still slinking out of bed when you know he's asleep."

"I can't sleep. My sense go on edge the second he relaxes around me…" South admitted.

"Have you tried going to sleep before he does?" Ross asked before making a face. "No, before you answer that…It's safe to assume you have not actually talked to him about it?"

South scoffed, "No. Though he's noticed because he said something to my brother about it."

"Well then talk to him," Ross shrugged.

"I don't want to talk to him."

"South," Ross sighed rubbing her forehead, "Relationships are about communication. If you cannot or are not willing to communicate with him about these things, then why are you in one?"

"You stop it with your logic…" South grumped as she sipped her drink.

"Do you want to be with him?" Ross asked. South took a moment, but nodded. "Then I don't think it's a mistake. I think it might just take you a little longer to get used to it. I mean, he's not suffocating you or anything is he?"

"No."

"Then it's just something you will have to get used to. See about going to bed before him, maybe if you're asleep by the time he joins you, you can get used to it that way."

South nodded. They sat in quiet for a few minutes before South cleared her throat. "Thanks…"

"For what?" Ross asked giving her a curious look.

"For coming out to listen to me bitch," South gave her a smirk. "I know you probably wanted to get home."

"It's ok. I'm glad you felt like you could talk to me. I would have expected you to call Emma or Carolina."

"It's easier to talk to you for some stupid ass reason. I've told you that before."

"I know. It's just fun making you admit things," Ross gave her a grin.


Wash gave Preston a wave before watching her turn her back and head back towards the Facility and her dorm. He waited until she was far enough away before walking next door to knock. Locus answered with a confused look on his face.

"Yea, hi," Wash said pushing past him and closing the door. "What's going on?"

"What do you mean?" Locus asked.

"I mean, South called Mila a couple times when we were at my sister's and then met us at the Sangheili Embassy as we were leaving and took her for drinks. What's going on?"

"I really don't know what you're talking about. I haven't seen South all day."

"Oh."

"Though if I were to guess about why she wanted to talk to Ross…" Locus sighed. "I can only assume it's because of whatever issue she's dealing with that she doesn't seem fit to share, but probably has something to do with the fact that I find her on the couch every morning instead of in bed."

"Ah," Wash said before reaching up to scratch his head nervously. "Then I apologize for interrupting whatever you were doing."

"It's fine. The concern is appreciated even though I am sure it is more for Ross's sake than mine." Wash made a face. Locus gave him a smirk, "I wouldn't expect it anyway. How is she? South said she's been feeling better?"

"A bit," Wash nodded. "Thank you for asking." Locus gave him a nod. Wash made to leave before pausing, "So are you participating in this stupid competition?"

"I don't necessarily think it wise," Locus sighed. "South insists I should."

"Mine says the same," Wash smirked.

"Word is that there is some concern about Carolina's competitive nature coming to surface?"

Wash gave a laugh, "Yea, a bit. She insists she'll be ok though so we'll just have to wait and see how that plays out. I feel more sympathy for York since he will have to go home with whatever the result is of this whole stupid thing."

"Even knowing how hard she hits, I think I can be in agreement with that," Locus replied dryly. "Would you care for a drink since you're here?"

Wash took a big breath and sighed, "I would say yes, but if Mila gets home to find me not there, I will probably get in trouble for not being there like she told me."

"I must admit, I find it quite entertaining how once we were fighting a war and are now not only living next door to each other but have people who care about us."

Wash gave a laugh, "Yea…I guess I can agree with that. Never would I have thought you and I would have a civil conversation with each other."

"Goodnight Agent Washington," Locus replied as Wash went to leave himself out.

"Night."

Wash headed out and back into his own house and kicked off his shoes. Rebel meowed at him. "Yes, yes, you see the bottom of your dish and are going to starve. Let's go."

Rebel made a noise at him as he followed him out to the kitchen. Wash filled his bowl and grabbed a bottle out of the fridge before walking out to the living room and sitting on his couch. He flicked his television on and found something to watch while he waited for Ross to get home.

The door opening vaguely registered in his head as he drifted back to consciousness. What did register was something settling themselves over his lap. He cracked an eye to see Ross grinning at him.

"Hi," he breathed. Moving an arm to wrap around her.

"You could've waited upstairs in bed, silly," Ross chuckled.

"What time is it?" Wash asked opening both eyes and looking around.

"Eleven-ish."

"You should be asleep already."

"I'm not that tired," Ross shrugged. "Besides, South needed a friend to talk to."

"Everything ok?" he asked giving her a look of concern.

"It will be."

"Good. Bed for you and the kid."

"Look at you getting bossy," Ross chuckled giving him a playful eye-roll. "You do know that I am an adult and don't have a bedtime, right?"

"Right," Wash gave her a tired smile. "But we do still have to get up for drill and you're pregnant and I'm tired so bed."

Ross looked down at her stomach, "Your daddy is bossy."

"Your mommy is thick-headed and likes to give me a hard time," Wash countered putting a hand on her stomach. "Feeling anything yet?"

"Nope, not yet," Ross answered. "Still too early, but soon."

Wash lifted her shirt up and looked up at her to raise an eyebrow, "Why is there a rubber band on your jeans?"

"Because my jeans still fit," Ross shrugged pulling her shirt back down.

"Yea, sure. That's why you need the rubber band. How is that comfortable?" Wash asked. She shrugged again. "If you need money to go clothes shopping, you can ask."

"Thank you, but for now I am fine," she smiled. "Most of the time I'm wearing my workout clothes which are still nice and comfy. I just felt like wearing jeans tonight. They fit, it's just comfier to not button them…and if you think about it, it almost makes your job easier."

"Or harder. I mean, sure," Wash chuckled, "The button's undone, but now you have this whole other apparatus here I have to contend with."

"You'll live," Ross crinkled her nose at him.


South walked into the house and closed the door before taking off her jacket. She noticed the living room was empty, but the television had been left on. Just as she was about to walk out to the kitchen, Locus appeared, two glasses of whiskey in his hand. He handed her one, "You can sleep upstairs tonight if you would like."

"Excuse me?" South gave him a confused look.

"You've been sleeping on the couch. Go sleep upstairs tonight. I'll sleep down here."

"Uh…thanks."

"You're welcome," he answered as he sat down on the couch and stretched out, legs in front of him.

South went to turn to walk away, but stopped when he didn't say anything else. She looked him over, "Aren't you going to ask me where I was?"

"Do you want me too?" he raised an eyebrow at her. She looked down in the glass he handed her. "I'm not going to police you. If you want to tell me where you went, that's fine. I won't force information out of you." He paused a moment before taking another breath, "I hope that doesn't imply I don't care."

"Oh, no," South shook her head, "No, I know you do." He nodded at her and she turned to walk back out to the kitchen. She stopped and looked at him again, "I…I care too."

The corner of his mouth twitched, "I know."

She bounced a bit on the balls of her feet before walking over to sit down on the other end of the couch with him, "I grabbed Missy and went to the club."

"I am sure Agent Washington loved you stealing his pregnant girlfriend to go for drinks."

"He'll get over it," South shrugged. She took a swig of her drink and looked back over at him to see him watching whatever he had on. They sat in silence for a few minutes until South looked down at her hands, "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Locus asked.

"You've obviously noticed my absence…"

Locus took a breath and let it out, "Yes, but you don't have to talk about it. It's fine."

"No it's not," South rolled her eyes.

"I promise you, it is. If I had concern over your actions, I would approach you. That being said, I also know that you will shut yourself off if I did in fact try to talk to you about it. I feel we get better results if I let you come to me." South scoffed quietly to herself. "I assume that is why you wanted to talk to Ross?"

"Ya," South replied taking another mouthful of liquor.

"Did talking to her help any?"

"I'm sitting here talking to you, ain't I?"

"I will have to thank her then," he gave her a wink.

"Asshole…" South shook her head. They sat in silence again. South stretched out her legs to push her feet into his lap. "This living with someone thing is just a bit difficult to get used to…"

"For me as well," Locus agreed. "It's something we're both going to have to get used to."

"It terrifies me a little bit," South admitted. "I'm not used to having such a noticeable weakness…"

"If I have learned anything from your friends, it is that having weaknesses makes us human. It also makes us stronger." South shoved him with her foot. "That being said…one day at a time. I don't have a problem sleeping downstairs until you say otherwise."

"It's not that I don't want to share a bed with you…" South trailed off picking at her sleeve.

"I know. You have problems letting your defenses down. I'm not going to push you."

"I appreciate it."