AN: Sorry for the wait! As the end of the school year gets closer, updates will be a bit farther apart due to exams but I'll try to get them out as quickly as possible. Thanks so much to all of you. Hopefully the wait was worth it!

"This is your home?" asked Roxy as she looked around.

"Yep, probably not as prestigious as you're use to but it has everything I need," James replied.

Roxy released a smile and said, "I think it's perfect. I like the couch."

James shot a triumphing grin towards Alastair who only rolled his eyes.

"I said your couch doesn't match anything else in your house, not that it was utter crap. Now do you have everything Roxy? If you don't, I can always run out and grab you something or James can later on."

"I'm fine," she said with a smile. "My backpack has everything I need. Where will I sleep?"

"You can sleep on my bed if you like and I'll—"

"Can I have the couch?" She was already sitting on it and had placed her hands patiently in her lap as she awaited the response.

"If you want but you can use my bed and I'll just—"

"I'd like the couch if that's alright."

James raised an eyebrow at Alastair who only shrugged. "She likes sleeping on couches," Alastair replied. "Don't ask me she just does. Now, are you sure you don't need anything else?"

Roxy shook her head, jumped up, and rushed over to give Alastair a tight hug. "I'll see you later brother," she said pulling back and giving him a large grin.

"See you soon Roxy," Alastair said, quirking his lips up in a brief but extremely kind smile. As it fell though, a rather annoyed look came over his face and he turned to James. "Try not to blow up the place while I'm gone."

"I thought you said Roxy was a good kid!"

"She is. I'm referring to you."

"Why the hell would I blow up my own flat?" asked James as he placed his hands on his hips.

"I'm not sure but having you two together for five days I wouldn't be surprised if something like that happened," muttered Alastair. "Now remember, the play starts at six tonight and make sure you have fruit for breakfast and plenty of vegetables for lunch and dinner and make sure she doesn't go to bed to late and she gets to her school on time and that she keeps up practice with her clarinet and—"

"Alastair, I know, alright? Everything will be fine and we'll see you in five days time. Okay?" James replied as he interrupted him with an easy going smile. "Now go do tailoring things and whatnot."

Letting out a disgruntled snort, Alastair gave a small nod and murmured, "Right. Just get in contact with me if anything goes wrong."

"Of course! Why even say that? Do you expect me to ignore you on purpose when something has gone wrong?"

"Oh shut up," Alastair responded at the sarcastic tone. He gave Roxy one last hug before leaving. Then it was suddenly just Roxy and James looking at each other curiously.

"Do you mind if I set up a space on the couch?" Roxy asked after a brief period of silence.

"Not at all. Need any help?"

"I've got it but thanks," she responded as she unzipped her book bag and then began piling things out. A neat stack of books began to form at one end of the couch along with notebooks, a flute case, and a foldable stand. "I hope you don't mind if I practice a few times."

"Of course not. And I'd love to hear you play before you leave if you don't mind," James responded. "Need anything to drink?"

"Water?"

"Coming right up." James went to go grab a glass as he added, "I was able to get some time off for this weekend. I'll have to work Sunday evening and on into the night but other than that I'm free. I'll be able to get you to your school on time and pick you up as well. After your lessons I should be good so whatever you want to do is fine with me."

Roxy gave an appreciative nod as she clearly began to think about the possibilities when suddenly the door was knocked open. Roxy jumped off the couch and was her feet in seconds but by the time she had her hands up defensively James was already in front of her, hands on hips and head cocked to the side.

"Are you kidding me Lily? You could have given us a heart attack!"

"Nothing scares you and what do you mean we-fuck! I mean shit! I meant fiddlesticks-oh just to hell with it all! You're Roxy right?"

Looking her up and down, Roxy watched the woman pop her head around James' body. Lily noticed the fists that were up and quickly added, "Sorry to scare you. I forgot he'd said Alastair's sister was coming to stay with him."

Roxy gave a rather wary look towards her but put her hands down and stood up straighter. "Are you a friend of James?"

"Yeah, I live across the hall. I really am sorry for scaring you sweety."

"That's alright," Roxy responded, her facing easing somewhat at the apology. She glanced at the clock on the wall and quickly turned to Alastair as she added, "Shouldn't we get there thirty minutes before?"

"Shit you also had the-I mean shoot! You guys are going to that play right?" asked Lily. "God, sorry about this. I hoping we'd have time for a drink and could catch up but maybe later James."

He rolled his eyes but responded, "Sounds good to me. Just don't go breaking down my door next time."

Sticking out her tongue in response, Lily gave one last apologetic smile to Roxy and then hurried across the hall, the door closing loudly behind her. The moment she was gone, James was asking, "You alright? She didn't mean—"

"It's fine," Roxy replied earnestly. "She seems very nice. She just surprised me; that's all."

"You sure?"

"Yep."

"Good, ready to see this play then?"

"Definitely," she replied excitedly as she grabbed her coat. "I've got the tickets right here."

"Well aren't you all prepared," responded James with a grin. "Now to see if you'll stay awake during the whole thing."

"Are you serious? Of course I'll be awake! Who could fall asleep during Shakespeare?"

James smiled at the question and grabbed his coat. "Oh, you'd be surprised. Come along then."

The drive to the theatre house took no time at all and soon they were both sitting in their seats, dead center and almost right at the front. Now that they were there, James honestly couldn't remember ever seeing a play, at least not one that was clearly put on by a well received and like company.

They both settled in, waiting for the play to start and quietly commented on some of the more interesting faces they saw in the crowd. Finally, the lights began to dim, a few remaining people snuck in, and the curtains were pulled back.

"Who's there?"

"Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself."

Soon, both James and Roxy were enraptured with the play as it moved from scene to scene and finally changed acts. There was one intermission in which they both simply remained in their seats and talked excitedly about what they had enjoyed. When the play began again, their eyes were as glued to the stage as before.

Despite being slightly abridged, the entire production took around three hours and thirty minutes and by the time they got out it was nearly ten. Though Roxy had stayed enraptured the entire time, now that she had nothing to concentrate on it was obvious she was deadbeat tired.

"Hey, want to ride on my back?"

"I don't want to be any trouble."

"Naw, no trouble. Besides, your feet are dragging. Come on up….there we go! So you enjoyed it?"

James could feel Roxy nod against the back of his neck as she murmured, "It was perfect. Thanks."

"Glad to be of service. Maybe next time Alastair could come along to," he replied.

Roxy perked up slightly at that and asked, "Do you really think so? That would be so cool. We could do Othello next! I'm halfway through it."

Chuckling, James replied, "That sounds like a fine idea to me."

As they moved through the theatre house and finally made it outside, Roxy mumbled something else, clearly becoming sleepy again.

"Sorry love. You're going to have to speak up."

"Are you and Alastair together? Like how married people are?"

James let out a small snort, slightly shocked but more amused than anything by her words. "No, we're just friends."

"Oh."

"What's with that sad tone?"

"Well if you two were together then I could call you brother too. Or uncle. Or something. I have to many brothers I guess. You're more like the amazing uncle I don't have," mumbled Roxy as she held on tighter while they moved down the stairs.

"Well it doesn't matter. Call me what you like. The fact that you want to use a term that is for a family member is flattering enough."

"Then you're Uncle James now," Roxy murmured. "You're kooky Uncle James."

"Oh, I'm kooky now am I? What happened to amazing?"

Roxy let out a small giggle in response. "Nothing, don't worry. You're both."

That made James smile and he got them home quickly, waking Roxy up when they got there so that way she could get into her pajamas. He tried to convince her to use the bed but instead she once again insisted on the couch. Rolling his eyes at that, James made sure she had all blankets and pillows she might need. He was just pulling the covers up when she fell asleep again. Smiling kindly down at her, James went off to his room, already looking forward to what the next day might bring.