"So apparently, Felicity has recently noticed how I am not around my dorm much lately," Ross commented as Wash brought a bowl of popcorn out to the living room, two beers in his other hand.
"Oh yea?" he chuckled as she took the beers from him before he sat down.
"Yea. Apparently," Ross continued, "She, Katie and Ellie have a girls night every once in a while in Ellie's room where they watch sappy romantic movies and she wanted me there and the last couple times when she went to fetch me, I was not there. So she asked me what I was doing and where I was."
"What'd you say?" Wash asked curiously.
Ross shrugged, "Gave her some excuse about going to the library or practicing throwing knives in the Range if I know for a fact no one's in there. I fear she might start trying to follow me soon."
"Great," Wash chuckled.
"Don't worry, I'm sneaky," Ross winked.
"Oh I'm sure," Wash grinned. "And library?"
Ross shrugged, "I like to read."
"Really?"
"Yes," Ross nodded. "Course, my reading consumption has decreased greatly since a certain someone started inviting me over."
"Ya know, you could bring whatever you're reading here. I wouldn't mind."
"Really?"
"Nope. I mean, if you're going to be here, I don't want you to be bored and I like having you here so you might as well have something here that you like doing-"
"But I have you," Ross grinned, her eyes dancing.
"Besides me," Wash chuckled.
"I don't know, I like doing you and that could take up a lot of free time," she reached out and grabbed handful of popcorn.
"Weren't you the one who said you wanted to do things outside the bedroom?"
"Well yea, but I mean we have the rest of your house too," she replied. Wash shook his head at her. "And thank you. I would like to be able to read if the opportunity should arise."
"What other things do you like?" Wash asked. Ross raised an eyebrow at him. "What?"
"Nothing," she giggled. "I think it's cute you sound genuinely interested in me."
"Shouldn't I be?"
"Depends. Will I get to ask the personal questions and get some answers?" Ross asked.
"Um…eventually?" Wash answered scratching the back of his head. "It'll depend on the question really."
"How so?"
"I don't really like talking about things from the past."
"So no family related, childhood related, school related, pre-Project Freelancer related, pre-Chorus related questions?"
"Sort of…"
"That's a big list of things I can't talk to you about," Ross commented.
"I know and maybe one day I will want to talk about it," Wash replied.
"I didn't realize you had so many issues."
"Yea well…I'm sorry," Wash picked at the label on his beer bottle.
"Hey," Ross moved the popcorn bowl to the coffee table and kissed his cheek, "I'm here whenever you want to talk about it."
"You…you're not mad?"
Ross shrugged, "Everyone has stuff they don't want to talk about. Until then, I will make it my goal to make you feel comfortable enough to trust me with that information because it all leads up to the person you've become and will help me understand you better."
Wash looked down at her, "You are awfully understanding of things normal people would be annoyed about."
"Wash, haven't you noticed I am not normal?" Ross grinned.
"I don't know," Wash chuckled, "You seem pretty normal to me." She raised an eyebrow. "N-not that that's a bad thing. I mean, if it was, I wouldn't be…I mean…Shit, I don't even know what I'm trying to say right now."
"You're adorable when you get flustered," Ross giggled. "You're face gets all red and your freckles stand out and it's absolutely adorable."
"Great. Space marine goal of adorable achieved," Wash chuckled.
"Don't worry, you're still big, tough and scary," Ross crinkled her nose at him. "Also sexy as hell if I do say so myself."
"Why thank you," Wash let out a laugh.
"So any more good gossip on the relationship that should not be spoken about?" Emma asked as she sat with Carolina and Ally in her living room. She had sent the guys to go get pizzas.
"Not that I have heard," Carolina replied. "Which I'm going to take as a good thing because if there was anything bad, I'm sure we would've seen or heard something by now."
"Good. I like her and I think she's good for him," Emma nodded.
"All I'm concerned about is that he doesn't shoot himself in the foot on it," Carolina replied.
"Ally, you seen any good stuff at skating?" Emma asked.
"Nope," Ally giggled. "Remember, Uncle Wash doesn't know I know. I told him that he can tell me though if he would ever actually consider doing it."
"You did what now?" Carolina asked looking down at Ally.
"Well," Ally smiled, "I asked Uncle Wash if he ever wanted a family of his own and he said he didn't know so I told him that if he ever thought about it that he should think about asking Mila out because I think the way they pick on each other is really cute and that if he did, he could tell me and I wouldn't tell anyone, especially Daddy."
Carolina and Emma stared at Ally who looked quite pleased with herself. Carolina looked down at her, "I am not sure how I feel about that."
"You're not mad are you…?" Ally asked looking small all of a sudden.
"No, no not that," Carolina chuckled. "I mean you're level of genius sometimes."
"York would be proud of that one," Emma chuckled.
"Yea he would," Carolina agreed.
"Your child might be slightly evil."
"You raised her so I have you to thank for that," Carolina chuckled.
"True," Emma nodded. "What'd he say when you said that?"
"He said he would think about it and he would definitely maybe tell me," Ally giggled.
"Well at least someone can get us some info once he officially informs her," Emma answered.
"I don't see it happening for a while yet," Ally shrugged. "I think they're having too much fun pretending."
"You could very well be right," Carolina chuckled.
"Hey, Smith," North asked walking out from his office looking at something.
"Yes sir?"
"Did you and Bitters finish going through that crate of plasma rifles?"
"Yes sir," Smith nodded. "Palomo picked them up a little bit ago to take next door so that he could record them into the system."
"Great," North grinned.
"Is there anythingi else we need to do today?"
"Nope, I think that's it for now," North replied. "At least until the rest of the stuff starts coming in."
"When will that be if you don't mind me asking?"
"I believe Agent Carolina wants to send a group out with supplies this weekend so probably then."
"Permission to volunteer?"
"You don't need my permission," North chuckled.
"Technically I do, sir," Smith pointed out. "Agent Carolina talked to us and said we were being assigned a specialty CO and you are mine."
"Right," North nodded. "I forgot about that...for future, you don't really have to ask me. Just tell me and I'll more than likely go along with it."
"Are...are you sure sir?"
"Yes. I'd prefer you both think for yourselves to be honest."
"Yes sir."
"Knock, knock," Emma rapped lightly on the door.
"Well if it isn't my lovely wife," North smiled as Emma walked up to him. "What brings you by?"
"I am fetching you home for once," Emma replied after kissing him. "Hello Smith."
"Agent Alaska," Smith nodded. "Might I say you are looking quite lovely today?"
"Why thank you," Emma chuckled. "I appreciate it."
"How's my boy doing?" North asked putting a hand on her bump.
"Your boy is hungry," Emma replied. "Just like mom."
"Well then we better go feed you both," North grinned. "You got this Smith?"
"Of course sir," Smith nodded. "I hope you both have a pleasant evening."
"Same to you."
"He's so polite," Emma chuckled after they left the Range to head home.
"He's a damn good soldier too," North nodded. "Or agent or whatever the hell we're calling them. Did we talk about that yet?"
"Nope, I don't think we did," Emma answered. "Probably refer to them as agents eventually once their out in the field doing more or helping train the new-comers."
"Any more word on that?"
"Not that I've heard. George and I have been getting some blank ADs ready for whenever that happens so all I have to do is input their information into the system. Course, we're more worried about getting enough inhibitor chips set up and functioning before something else happens. He's waiting on more materials to come in before we can make more though," Emma sighed.
"Hey," North rubbed her back, "What did I tell you about not letting yourself get stressed out about this AI?"
"Not to…"
"Exactly."
"It's really hard though," Emma whined. "Especially since Church is starting to have crashing problems again. I'm trying to fix them and patch him up, but there's only so much I can do and if a full AI can get into the system, he's done."
"Yes, but you're already doing everything you can."
"It's not enough," Emma shook her head. "I just don't know how to fix him. I've put in a request to ONI for access to Dr. Halsey's old AI research."
"You did what now?" North asked looking at her. She shrugged. "Em, does Carolina know you did that?"
"Not yet," Emma replied quietly. "She's aware he's having problems again."
"Emma, I really don't want you-"
"I don't have a choice," Emma snapped stopping to look at him. "I'm the only one here besides Grey who has even the slightest chance of understanding what that research says and we need Church. I don't have access to the Director's AI research so that's the next best thing."
"What are you hoping to find in it?"
"A way to keep him around," Emma shrugged as she started walking again.
"And what if there's not a way?" North asked as Emma unlocked their front door. "What if he's past the point of trying to keep him going? He's said it himself, he's not a young AI anymore. He's not even a full one, he's only a fragment. I'm surprised he's lasted this long. It might just be his time and we should all just accept it."
Emma turned to look at him, "Would you be saying the same thing if it was Theta?"
"Don't even-"
"Don't tell me not to bring him into this. He's from the same program, fragmented from the same thing Church was," Emma growled. "Theta's just as much a part of this as every other Alpha fragment there was and if I could save them all, I would. Unfortunately, Wash took care of that when he set off the EMP. Epsilon is what's left and I'm not giving up on him just because you are being overprotective of me."
"Emma, you're pregnant. I don't want you overworking yourself for something that might end up not happening."
"Stop bringing up the fact I'm pregnant," Emma glared at him. "I know I am. I don't need you telling me when I'm the one who has our son growing in my abdomen. I'm reminded every time he moves or I look down. I don't need you telling me and I don't need you telling me what I can or cannot work on. This isn't field research. This is me reading files trying to come up with a solution. I'm not a regular field agent like the rest of you. I am research and computers and this is what I'm best at. You don't like it, too bad, I don't give a shit."
"Emma-"
"Just shut up. I'm done talking about this with you," Emma put up a hand to silence him before heading upstairs.
"Where are you going?" he huffed.
"Bed."
"I thought you were hungry."
"Lost my appetite."
"You…I'd…" North fought with himself trying to find the rights words to make it not sound like he was trying to boss her. He growled before rolling his eyes deciding it wasn't like it would ruin her mood any further. "You should really eat something before you go to sleep."
"This is me caring what you think!" Emma yelled down to him before he heard a door slam.
"Dammit woman…" North huffed before looking around, scratching his head. "There goes a nice relaxing night at home…"
He walked out to the kitchen and made dinner, putting a plate aside for Emma whenever she felt like eating it. Just as he was finishing cleaning up, he heard the doorbell open. Before he could reach the door, Emma was already at the bottom, her coat halfway on as she opened it to let South in who gave him a wave as Emma rolled her eyes at him.
"Thought you were going to bed?" North raised an eyebrow at her.
"I'm going for dinner with your sister or are you going to try and stop me?" Emma snapped. North rolled his eyes before walking back into the kitchen. Emma pushed past South and out the front the door. South caught up with her quickly and tried to hold in a snicker. "What?"
"I didn't actually believe you when you said you were fighting. I didn't think it possible," South commented.
"Oh it's possible all right," Emma grumbled. "You'd think he'd learn by now that he can't control what I do."
"Trust me," South chuckled. "If anyone can understand that annoyance, it's me."
"Reasons why I called you to go get food with me," Emma shrugged. "Figured we can bitch about him together."
"Reason enough," South nodded. "Where are we going anyway?"
"I want pizza," Emma replied stiffly. "With pineapple."
"Pineapple works."
They walked in silence for a bit before Emma growled again. "Why does he have to be such an overprotective asshole?"
"Because that's my brother," South shrugged. "He's always been that way. Gets it from mom."
"All I ask is for him to just let me do what I have to do and all he cares about is me overworking myself. Apparently I can't handle my own work load."
"Tell me about it. He was constantly up my ass our entire lives up until they gave him Theta. 'Don't do this, don't do that, you shouldn't yell like that, you should leave things alone and learn to trust everyone.' Fuck that. If he would've left me alone about it, then maybe I would've. He fails to comprehend that sometimes people have to figure things out for themselves, regardless of the consequences and if you try to tell them what to do, it makes them want to do it less."
"Yea," Emma huffed. "Like…I know he loves me and he's only doing it because he cares, but he really needs to back off. I wouldn't give myself the workload if I knew it would be a problem."
"You've told him this?"
"Yes. Normally he's been pretty good about it," she sighed. "Every once in a while though, he's got to get under my skin about it and he always picks the wrong day to do it."
"And I'm sure he's just tickled pink that you called me to go for food with you," South chuckled.
"At least he can shut up about me eating before I go to bed," Emma grumbled.
"He's got a point there. Little one's got to eat too."
"I know," Emma sighed rubbing a hand across her stomach. "I just didn't want to eat whatever he was making."
