As much as Grace loved spending time with Oliver (and working with him had been a much more pleasant experience as of late), she was glad when he finally had a day of meetings around the city. The morning of she rushed through most of her work and headed over to the diner at lunchtime. She'd even arranged for a couple of Annie's friends to come over to keep her occupied for the afternoon.

Agatha was happy when she saw Grace walk through the door. It'd been over a week since she last heard from her. A few nights back she'd almost called out of curiosity but ultimately thought better of it. If it was something bad she didn't want to know.

"Have a seat, Grace," Agatha said in a cheery tone after exchanging an awkward hello hug. "What'll ya have?"

"Oh, any kind of sandwich would be great. I've been wanting to stop by and try the food here. I'm glad I caught you while you are working."

Agatha shouted her order back to the kitchen before she half-joked, "Thought you'd forgotten about me."

"Of course I didn't. Things have been busy. Actually, that's partly what I want to talk to you about. What time do you get off? I figured I'd eat lunch and then do some errands until you're through."

"Not until five, I'm afraid. Unless I can get out of clean up early."

"Oh no, I wouldn't want you to do that. That's perfectly fine. I expected as much. I have plenty I can do around town for the time being."

"Are you sure?" Agatha asked

"Positive."

. . .

Time passed rather swiftly despite the fact Grace's errands took her less than an hour to complete. With a few hours to spare, she hailed a cab and did some shopping of her own. It occurred to her that aside from a handful of dresses, her everyday clothes consisted of business suits and nothing more. Oliver made frequent compliments whenever she wore her sundresses. With autumn right around the corner, she wanted to get ahead of the game and prepare her wardrobe for the cooler weather.

When 4:30 rolled around, Grace headed back toward the diner figuring if it was closed she could just wait around there while they locked up. This gave her the chance to meet Agatha's boss which gave her some comfort. She was worried Agatha had gotten into another bad situation. The place was all around pleasant despite its shabby appearance. It had been amusing to see the other customer's faces when she walked in. It made her realize the power of perspective. She thought with Agatha's choice in fabrics and styles she was settling for less, but standing next to everyone else in her tailored clothes, it reminded her just how bad things had become for most people.

Hungry once again, Grace offered to take Agatha out for an early dinner. Agatha agreed, though found herself mystified by how natural their recent association felt. It was almost as though everything that happened never took place… almost.

"So, what did you wanna talk to me about?" Agatha asked before taking a sip of water."

"Oh…" Grace said nervously. "It can wait until after we eat."

"Why? Is something wrong?"

"No, no. Nothing's wrong."

"Then why can't you tell me now? We ain't talkin' about anything else."

"It's not bad, but it's not exactly a fun topic."

"Fun? Grace, I hate to break it to you, but other than things we did ten years ago, you and I have nothing in common."

"I never thought of it that way."

"Would you please just tell me?"

Grace nodded. "I'm sorry for not stopping by more."

"That's it?"

"No, there's more to it."

"Then get on with it," Agatha said along with a hand gesture.

"Oliver pointed out to me how little time I was spending with him and Annie. I know that sounds strange seeing as I work at home and I'm there more time than not, but it's a different kind of time. I missed a lot of things with Annie and her friends and both she and Oliver were disappointed with me."

"And?"

"And what?"

"I thought there was more."

Grace shook her head, slightly confused. "No, not really."

"I'm not expecting you to spend all your time with me. I like the company, but to tell you the truth, that's what I was most afraid of when this whole mess started."

"You were afraid I was going to come over all the time?"

"Well yeah, like a babysitter. You even said…? Well, never mind that part. It was a stupid fight. Believe it or not, I've been doing okay on my own."

"Have you really?" Grace asked.

"Yeah. I'm pretty shocked, actually. Kinda waiting to see how long it'll last."

"Don't think like that."

Agatha shrugged. "Gotta be realistic."

"Realistic doesn't have to mean pessimistic."

"Let's not start, okay? My point is that I'm good right now."

"I'm certainly glad to hear it. I do want to keep in touch, though. I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too. I guess I didn't want to admit it."

"I don't think I did either."

Not used to these kinds of conversations, Agatha cleared her throat before attempting to change the subject. "So… how are you and the billionaire doing?"

"Really well," she gave a shy smile.

"You think it's going somewhere?"

"I do."

"I thought he was a confirmed bachelor."

"So did I. Goodness, I am so glad I was wrong."

"Maybe this is a dumb question seeing as I just said me and you don't have any common ground, but what do you two find to talk about outside of work?"

"Lately it's been getting settled in with Annie and getting to know each other in a different light. I haven't thought much about it."

"Warbucks with a kid… shocked us all. What gave him the idea to take one in in the first place?"

"I suggested it. He's been, or was, getting a lot of negative press so I suggested a charitable gesture. When he asked what kind of gesture, bringing an orphan in was the first thing that came to my mind. I don't know why. It seemed unique. He wasn't too keen on the idea but agreed for the sake of brevity. Thinking back, I don't think he expected me to go through with it."

"Must've been a surprise to him," Agatha said.

Grace nodded, adding, "Especially when he realized I'd brought home a girl. He never specified what gender word for word. It was more implied. So it wasn't at the front of my mind to specify to The Board of Orphans. When they assumed I was looking for a girl, I wasn't quick to correct them."

"But why?"

"I suppose because I knew most of the responsibility would fall on me. I don't have much experience with boys."

Agatha chuckled. "Imagine if you had chosen a boy. We wouldn't be sitting here that's for damn sure."

"Things always work out," Grace smiled.

"Boy, I'll never forget the shock I felt when I realized who you were at the door."

"Likewise."

"… Any regrets?"

"Naturally some given the craziness around it. But I suppose if it all needed to happen for a greater good…"

"I'm… I'm sorry I gave you such a hard time in the beginning."

"I'm starting to realize it wasn't so much you as it was the alcohol," Grace said.

"Some of it was still me," Agatha admitted. "I was angry. Not just at you but everything."

"I know."

"You're not mad at me for that?"

Grace chuckled. "I can't be mad at you for being mad. And given everything, I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks."

"I don't know a lot about any kind of addiction but I can imagine it wasn't an easy task to wrap your mind around."

"It wasn't. And it isn't."

"There's something I've been wondering…" Grace's tone suddenly changed.

"What is it?"

"The timing of your decision… it was right about when I was telling you about the car accident."

"Yeah?"

"It seemed like that influenced your decision in a way. I was surprised you even remembered them, you know, as it had taken you a moment to recognize me."

"I can't remember their faces but I remember them around that one year."

"Anyway, it's confusing me. Was it them that influenced your decision, or was it the nature of the conversation?"

"I'm not sure," Agatha answered. "I guess more the nature. And guilt, probably."

"Guilt? What happened to them wasn't your fault."

"Oh, I know. I mean I was feeling guilty because I kept sayin' to you that you didn't know any real kind of pain."

"Oh, I see.'

"I am sorry for that. You might have a point saying things feel different for everyone. While I don't think I'd be devastated right now if I heard Rooster's jail cell went up in flames and I didn't grieve much more than my freedom when my parents went, I remember enough that family means everything to you. I don't know why but I kinda flashed on how that must've been to see. I can't really explain it. Somethin' in the eyes, I guess."

Grace nodded, looking down at her napkin. "It wasn't a great time in my life."

"I didn't think it was."

"I've been thinking about them a lot since then. I feel I should try to get in touch with Leia… you know, tell her all that's happened."

"Go for it," Agatha said, beginning to wish the heavy topic hadn't been brought up.

"I can't help but wonder how she'll react. Annie is around the same age Rosie was…"

"Oh."

Grace sighed, knowing she needed to get away from the topic herself. "I suppose I need to leave well enough alone."

"Maybe."

"Besides, I don't think Oliver can take one more thing right now."

"I thought you said you two are doing great?"

"We are," Grace said, "but he's nervous about being a father and what this means to his usual routine. I think as everything was going on at the same time he didn't feel it so much. Now that there's a sense of normalcy returning he's beginning to panic."

"What's he doing?"

"I honestly can't explain it. It's his mannerisms. He's gotten clumsy, that's the best I can say."

"Weird."

"I apologize, I don't mean to carry on like this."

"That's all right," Agatha said.

"Enough about me. How is work going? Your boss seems nice."

"Yeah, he is. He's been good to me."

"And the money's good?" Grace asked.

"It could be better but I'm not complaining. I'm just happy to have a job. And I know you had found on for me but it felt good to be able to find this one myself, ya know?"

"Yes, I understand."

"And also thanks for giving me a place to stay. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you…"

"Don't worry about it. Seems like it's been worth it."

"Thanks."

"When do you think you'll be able to get a place of your own? I'm not asking because the money is a problem. I'm curious."

"If I can find a decent rate maybe in a month or two? I thought it might be sooner but tips aren't what they used to be."

"That isn't bad."

"I think I might look for a room instead. What the hell am I going to do with an entire apartment? Given the times it might not be so humiliating."

"You could find a studio apartment."

"Yeah, I guess. We'll see. Whatever is cheapest."

"I'm just thinking if it's going to take a while to get you a place, why don't we start looking now?"

"What? By the time I can afford it, comfortably anyway, it'll be taken by someone else."

"No, no, what I mean is if I'm going to be paying nightly for a hotel anyways why don't I help out with your rent for a little while?"

"Oh, Grace, I couldn't ask you to do that."

"It'll probably amount to less than the stay at the hotel if I'm being honest. The hotel isn't a problem if that's where you'd prefer to stay it's not a problem."

"Oh… I hadn't realized. How much are you spending anyways?"

"I'm not telling you."

"Oh gosh, that much?"

"Relax," Grace said, "it's not a fortune or even a small one. I have the money."

"You must be paid well."

"It's more a matter of being paid along with being provided most of my living necessities."

"Find me a job like that and I'll sign up in a heartbeat."

"I would if I could."

"I was joking. You would?"

"Of course."

"But I've been rotten to you."

"I don't like to hold a grudge."

"You have every right to, though."

"Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"

"It's not all of a sudden. I've been thinking about it off and on. I'm glad things are getting different again, but why is it?"

"Because we're both trying?"

Agatha nodded before she continued. "Yeah, but you should have been running like hell a lot of times. Why did you waste your time coming back?"

"I'm not lying when I said you meant a lot to me. I miss having you as a friend. I know we'll never be able to recreate the old times, but who's to say we can't make new ones? We're different people now. That doesn't have to be a bad thing."

"I just don't wanna screw up your life. I mean, I'm not going to pretend I'm not still jealous of you. It's hard to see what a loser I turned out to be while you're on your way to becoming the wife of a billionaire."

"You're turning your life around. That's what counts. And you're not screwing up my life. I'm making my own decisions."

"Didn't you just say you have to focus on being home?"

"Yes, I did, but that doesn't mean I can't meet for lunch or dinner and talk on the phone."

"I guess."

"Are you upset with me?"

"No. I dunno. I'm being stupid. It's jealousy like I said."

"You don't have to be jealous. I'm here to help you, Agatha, honest."

"I hate owin' to people."

"You don't owe me a dime. I'm helping you because I want to. No one is pressuring me."

"But what if I start drinkin' again? It's not gonna help me any feelin' like my room or house or whatever will be taken from me because of my own damn weakness."

"While I'd be saddened to see you fall off the wagon I wouldn't punish you like that unless there were real reasons for it. I don't want to use that word, but you know what I mean."

"It's just a lot, that's all."

"As I said, the choice is yours. If you're more comfortable staying in a room on a day to day basis that's fine with me."

Agatha asked, "Can I think about it for a few days?"

"Of course. Here comes the waiter with our food. We can talk more about this later."

Agatha nodded to Grace as the waiter came with his tray and placed their meals in front of them.