George smiled as she woke up in Delores's arms for the second morning in a row. Though she hadn't asked her to spend the night once more, it had seemed that it was an unspoken understanding that Delores end up in her room once more the previous evening. And now she was wrapped up in Delores's arms and legs, feeling warm and safe. Sighing a little, she reached up to cover Delores's hands, finding a certain comfort in the act.

"Good morning," she said, hating the croak in her voice. Delores nodded as she loosened her grip on George, allowing her to turn and look into Delores's eyes. Sleep lingered around her brown eyes, and George nodded as she snuggled in close, not quite ready to give up the warm feeling of lingering sleep. "I almost want to call in to work and take a personal day."

"I think that Rube would be quite cross with you if you did that," Delores said as she reached up and ran her fingers through George's hair, giving her a gentle smile before kissing her forehead and then pushing away from her and climbing from the bed. "Do you want me to make breakfast or do you want to eat at the restaurant?"

"I think I'd like to eat here this morning?"

Delores gave her a soft, open, look and George felt herself sigh a little as she sat up and wrapped her arms around her legs, resting her chin on her knees as she watched the woman turn and make her way from the bedroom. Taking a deep breath, George thought about the day ahead of her. She knew that there would be a reap at some point, and she hoped that it would be an easy one, after the hell she had gone through Saturday. Even Rube seemed to know that he had made a major misstep, since he had been quite conciliatory towards them both yesterday morning.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she clambered out of bed and went over to her closet, pulling out a smart outfit to wear to the office that day. Delores, in the weeks that she had been with George, had helped step up her wardrobe, and she found a new surprise every day, or so it seemed. It didn't take her long to dress, and then she went into the bathroom and quickly did her makeup before going down to the kitchen. Delores had also dressed for the day, and was making them both a fruit bowl. George looked to see that there was yoghurt on the table already, and she finished setting the rest of the table before pouring juice for them both.

"We don't have too long to linger thing morning, Georgie girl. It's a little later than I thought it was, and I still don't want to do anything that might set him off again."

She nodded as Delores set the fruit bowl down on the table between them, taking her seat and sipping at the juice as she watched George. A quick smile fluttered across her face as she dug into the fruit before starting to eat. There was something comforting about the quiet that fell between them as they ate, and she found herself relaxing more and more until they were both ready to head out. "Bus day, today. I haven't had a chance to fill up the tank."

"That's fine, Georgie." Delores took hold of her hand as if it were second nature to her, and George tried to keep the soppy smile from spreading across her face at the touch. They didn't have to wait too long for the bus, and then they were on their way to the diner. Thankfully, everything was running on time, and they waved at Roxy as they went inside on her way out. "Have a good day!"

"You are too damn perky for this early in the morning," the woman muttered, and George had to stifle her giggle at Delores's indignant look. They went over to Rube's table and George slid in first, watching the man's face carefully as Delores took a seat next to her.

"Good morning, ladies."

"Good morning, Rube!" Again, Delores was overtly perky, as if she was trying to overcompensate for the way the weekend had gone. Rube's eyebrows raised before his face formed a scowl, and George braced herself for whatever was to come. "Where are we going today?"

"You are really chipper this morning, aren't you?" he asked as he looked down at the sticky notes in his hands. "You have a double reap today, Delores, and since you took the bus today, you're probably going to want to get going. If you catch the next one, you'll make it just in time."

She gave a hesitant nod before looking at George. "All right," she murmured, taking the small piece of paper from his hands and letting out a light sigh. "I'll see you tonight, Georgie?"

"Of course." George gave her a quick smile before she slipped out of the booth and headed towards the door, not giving a backwards glance to them. George let out a deep sigh before turning her attention back to Rube, seeing the disappointed, almost sad, look on his face. "And what do you want to talk to me about?" she asked flatly, suddenly realizing that he had separated them on purpose, that he was most likely going to berate her again for something she had done.

"You are playing with fire, and dragging her along with you, Peanut."

George drew in a deep breath as she folded her hands on the table and looked at him. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Rube. We just have a very close friendship."

"There is nothing friendly about the look you were wearing when you came in here today, and you know that as well as I do. I didn't think I'd have to warn you about this again, but you cannot fall in love and do this job. Especially with another reaper."

"Why are the rules different for me?" she bit out, thinking about Mason and his dalliances, the way Daisy had kept a man on each arm, or so it seemed. "I didn't have the opportunity in my life to fall in love, why should I be denied that in my afterlife? And besides, I don't love Delores, not like that. She's just become the one thing I always wanted in life – a good friend who takes care of me."

He let out a scoffing laugh as he shook his head. "I know that you want to believe that, Georgia, but that couldn't be further from the truth. You both wear your feelings on your face, no matter how much you try to scowl and sneer at everyone else. You have fallen in love with her, and even though you're both reapers, nothing good can come of this relationship. I should have seen this when I gave her the assignment of being a reaper. But some things are clouded from view, and there are times when I don't see what is right in front of my face."

"Whatever, Rube. Just give me my assignment so that I can get going to work." She held out her hand expectantly, and he let out a short breath before pressing the sticky note in her hand. "And I'll thank you to keep your nose out of my personal business. Delores and I have something good together, and I am not going to lose her friendship over something as lurid as your imaginings!" Before he could protest, she slid out of the booth and stormed out of the restaurant, trying to keep control of her breathing as she checked out her reap and began to plan her day around it.