I take a deep breath and push open the doors almost colliding with Arlene. "I knew I saw you!" She cries and throws her arms around my legs. She was very short for a fourteen-year-old, if you didn't know any better, you'd think she was about nine. "I was going to come over right away, but I couldn't miss any of Max's songs. He doesn't come around as much anymore, not since he started hanging out with his new friend..." She gives a little frown. Then she squints up at me and cocks her head. "You've changed, Alyx."

"Have I?" I tease her a little as I skip away to a small cluster of chairs and plop down.

She studies me as I flit away from her. Then rushes over and kneels beside my chair, her chin on the armrest, gazing at me with large peridot eyes. "Yes. A lot actually," She says matter-of-factly. "I can see the inner you reflected on the outside now."

"What?!" I retort, slightly confused.

She gets up and crawls in my lap. Arlene was always saying things that were a little too insightful for someone so young. I guess growing up on the streets ages you, yet she somehow seemed to keep her youthful innocence as well. She was an enigma and made my brain hurt if I thought about it too long. "Nothing. I'm just glad to see you. I missed you." She says snuggling a little closer.

"You did?" She nods her little head and I lean down to kiss the top of it. "I missed you too, Peanut," I tell her.

She giggles and looks up at me. "Did you hear about Robert and Kate? They adopted me!"

"They did?" I ask with mock excitement as if I hadn't already heard it from Valerie.

"Yes, we did." A deep voice says coming up behind me. I turn to see Robert and Kate. They are still wearing their coats, having just come in. "I mean not officially, but since she has no one, we made her part of our family," Robert explains.

"Oh, Alyx! It's so good to see you!" Kate rushes forward to envelop us both in a hug. "I've missed you. We both have." She pulls up a chair next to me and takes off her coat. Robert moves toward us, placing a hand on Kate's shoulder.

Kate had been emancipated from her family at fifteen which is when I'd first met her. A scared lonely kid that stumbled into the shelter one night, looking for some food and a place to sleep. She was so mistrustful, mean even. I didn't blame her and gave her space, but we slowly became friends. That was three years ago. Now at eighteen, she looked more self-assured, confident and open to the world. I knew that had to do with Robert. He'd been a vet living on the streets. PTSD had made him lose everything, so he found his way to the shelter where he met Kate. She was too young then, so he kept his distance, but I knew it was love at first sight for him. Then little Arlene appeared a few months later. When Kate and Arlene met, they were like two peas in a pod. Inseparable. Which worked out well for Arlene, being so small. They looked out for each other. There was only a four-year difference between them, but that difference was night and day. Kate was Arlene's big sister to anyone who asked, but it was a little more than that. Kate was also kind of a mother to her making sure she was fed and took care of. Robert wanted so badly to connect with these two vibrant young girls, the first time he felt a connection with anyone since returning home but was afraid to try. I helped both parties get to know each other. Last I had heard, Kate didn't think of Robert as anything other than a nice older gentleman. It was amazing how fast things happened. I could tell Kate was in love with Robert. She had the same dreamy look in her eyes that I had when I thought about Dean. Robert was twenty years her senior, but if he treated her well, who was I to judge. People seemed to find each other at the shelter, I had noticed.

Kate's shrill voice pulls me out of my memories. "Where on earth have you been, Alyx? You stopped coming and we were worried something had happened to you. I mean Valerie assured us you were fine, but still, we were worried. It wasn't like you to bail."

I give Kate a warm smile and grab her hand squeezing. "I know, I'm really sorry I did that. I kind of got into some trouble."

Now Robert pulls up a chair, making a tight circle of us four. "Is everything okay? He asks concerned. "I mean now. Is that why you were finally able to come back."

I give him a smile as well. "Yes and no." I chuckle at that and take a deep breath before I say. "I lost my best friend, Tyrion. Remember me talking about him?" They both nod. "He was killed. It's been pretty hard on me, which is why I've been away so long."

Robert takes my other hand and gives it a warm squeeze. "I'm sorry for your loss. It's hard to lose people we love, especially if it's unexpected. Does he have anything to do with..." He clears his throat, "With this um... new look of yours?" He asks, trying to be respectful.

Kate releases my hand to smack Robert. "Geesh! Rude much?! You never say anything to a woman about her appearance unless it's a glowing review." Kate then proceeds to try and apologize for him. Robert tries to defend himself. It's adorable how they fake a fight over me.

"Guys! Guys!" I raise my hand. "Hey, it's totally fine Kate. Don't give Robert a hard time. Arlene has already pointed it out. It's a whole big long story that I'd rather not get into. It deals with Tyrion and I just can't yet." I give a sniffle. "I just want to hang out and hear how things are going for you guys. I'm yesterday's news."

She frowns at me but does as I ask. I hear all about how Robert and Kate found an apartment to rent. Robert got a job at a grocery store and Kate is getting her GED. They are trying to get their lives together to possibly adopt Arlene for real. It warms my heart to hear the good that has come of this place. So often it ends in tragedy.

Soon, Valerie calls me to the back to help her bring out lunch. After everyone has helped themselves, I go back to the little family for more news. "What do you think of this guy Max coming and playing his guitar for you?" I ask them. Arlene starts chatting away about how great he is.

We ignore her politely while Kate answers. "He's been really good for people's morale here. He's easy on the eyes that's for sure. The ladies like that and the guys think he's talented, so they tolerate him. I think they missed you plinking the keys over there, so we accepted him."

Robert pipes in. "Some of his song choices are a little iffy, but yeah. We like the kid. I wish he'd ask out this girl he's been mooning over though. I am a little sick of all the love songs."

Kate elbows Robert in the ribs. "Mr. Romantic over here! He really does like the love songs, but only if I'm here when Max sings them." She pulls his face toward hers to kiss him on his fuzzy cheek.

Arlene butts in, her mouth full of sandwich, "I like all his songs! That last one today sounded very familiar. I'm sure I've heard it before. Hey, isn't that the one you always hum?" She manages to recall where she's heard it.

I giggle. "Yes, it is my little Peanut. Max and I are actually friends. I'm still getting to know him though. I didn't know he played guitar and I think he learned that song for me... I am definitely going to ask him about it the next time I see him." I can see a tantrum coming from Arlene, so I try to toss in some teasing. "Though perhaps, I'll just put in a good word for you!" I bop her on the nose and her ears turn red.

She gets up from her chair as the red climbs her face, deepening. Sucking in a huge mouthful of air she declares, "I'm going to get dessert!" and stomps off.

We laugh. "She has a bit of a schoolgirl crush on Max. It's actually kind of adorable." Kate mentions. "I'd give her some time to cool off though. She seems a little bit too upset."

I see Arlene's red face as she angrily paces in front of the cupcakes, her arms crossed. "I think I'll just slip back into the kitchen for a bit then." I smile at them both and head there, to keep away from her wrath. "Hey, Valerie! What's going on back here? Need me for anything?"

"Oh, Alyx. Thanks again for bringing all the food. Word got around and we have double the amount of people today. I'm glad we could feed them all. Looks like we'll be able to feed them all for a couple more days too. I bet that was one insane fiesta!" She comments.

"It was great. A little unexpected, but great." I tell her. "I caught up with Kate and Robert. I'm so glad they got together. It seems they motivate each other."

"Yeah, they do. I was a little worried about the age difference, but Kate knows whom to trust and when to follow her gut. I wish Arlene would get her little head out of the clouds and get some of Kate's smarts." Valerie confesses.

"Oh, Val. Don't be so hard on the little Peanut. She knows a lot more than she tells. I think it's all an act to get the pity vote from people." I explain.

"You're probably right, it just frustrates me a little, I wish I could help her out more. She's so young and the world is not kind." Val sighs. "I've been meaning to ask. Can you check on the piano? I think it's still in tune, but if it's not I need to get someone in here. Max has been asking about bringing someone to tickle the ivory with him. I'm thinking now he means you."

"I don't think so. He doesn't even know I play the piano...At least I think he doesn't know. Maybe he does." I shake my head and laugh. "Of course, I'll check it out. I will warn you, I am a little rusty." I mention.

"You know people won't care. As long as they can recognize the tune, they're happy. Get out there." Val smirks.

I wave her off and pop my head out of the doors. I can see Arlene is still sulking about my confession, but she is back sitting with Kate. Robert has disappeared. I watch them. Kate has turned into mother-mode now. She's trying to get Arlene to talk, but that kid sure is stubborn. I wander over to the tables to grab a bottle of tea before heading over to the old piano. It's similar to the one I have at home. An early 1900's upright, a little shabby but still functional, I hope. I open the cover and slowly plink each key from bass to treble. Some of the ivory has worn off but all the black keys are intact. It sounds alright to me. I pull out the bench and sit down. I take a sip of tea then crack my knuckles trying to decide what to play. I have a repertoire of things, or had one, but what would use the most keys to see if this baby is in tune? Do I want to classical or something more recognizable? I close my eyes and place my hands on the keys hoping it'll come to me. It does. Chopin's Nocturne in E flat major. I'm surprised at how easily it comes back to me. Then I chuckle to myself. I did practice this every chance I got till it was perfect for my recital in seventh grade. I continued playing it later as it's a good and recognizable piece to play. Once that's finished, I slide into Misty then Rhapsody in Blue. All a bit serious on the music scale but songs people know. I'm lost in the notes and don't notice the crowd of people that's formed around me until I take a break for a drink after finishing the Gershwin number. Everyone claps and Arlene slides onto the piano bench beside me, hugging my waist. "I knew you remembered how to play this thing. Sorry I got mad. Will you play that song? The one I love?" She looks at me with puppy dog eyes. "Please!"

"I don't know. I think all these people want me to stop playing." I say.

"No! No, they don't! They just want you to play something from this century! Something more modern! Right?" She looks to the crowd for support and they all nod. I know they like the instrumental stuff, but everyone likes a tune they can sing along with.

"Which song are you referring to, Peanut?" I tease her. I know perfectly well which song it is but want to drag it out a little longer. I have missed teasing her.

"Come on! You know what song I mean! Please play it!" She whines. I play a few notes that don't belong to any particular song. She pouts. "Alyx!"

I laugh and launch into A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton. Everyone recognizes it immediately and starts singing. Val even comes out of the kitchen to join in. When it's over everyone claps enthusiastically then disperses. One patron comes over. "If you and that Max kid got together to play, oh-wee would that be sweet."

"I'll talk to him about it next time I see him. We're friends. I think it would be nice too." I tell him as I get off the bench.

"Val, looks like the old piano is in good working order." I check my watch. It's mid-afternoon but I'm feeling tired and know I should go home. "You need anything else before I leave?" She frowns. "I know. You'd like me to stay a bit longer, but I'm tired. I've been a bit rundown since the party and if I'm going to make it through this next week of classes I need some rest."

She smiles and gives me a hug. "I'll let you off the hook if you promise to come back and see everyone. And you promise to talk to Max about having a duet here. I overheard that guy and that is something I'd love to see."

"I promise Val. I will." I say pulling her in for a final hug. I find Kate and Robert in a corner with Arlene at their feet. "I came to say goodbye this time," I say approaching them.

"You better not disappear on us again!" Kate cries rushing in for a hug.

"YEAH!" Shouts Arlene hugging my legs.

"Yes." Says Robert softly in my ear as he hugs us all.

I lean back from the hug feeling a little overwhelmed at their kindness, even after what I did. "I promise guys. I'll be back. I'm going to talk to Max about coming and doing a duet or two for you if it's okay by Arlene that is." I lean down to look on her eyes. "Is it okay with you Arlene?"

"Yep. I realized that I'm probably too young for him anyway. You are a more suited match." She says without batting an eye. Almost as if she's over Max already.

"You're probably right, Arlene. But I don't think my boyfriend would like me dating someone else." I wink at her to show her I'm teasing.

Her eyes widen, "I want to hear all about him next time okay?!"

"As would I!" Kate says excitement in her voice.

"Next time guys, next time." I smile and head toward the kitchen to grab my coat and purse out of Val's office.

"I'll hold you to that!" Kate calls after me. I snigger silently. Those girls are persistent if nothing else. I head home to snuggle up with my kittens, who are looking more and more like cats every day. I make a nice warm cup of tea and vow to finish Ready Player One.