Author's Note: Horray! This fic isn't dead! I don't have an excuse for not updating, I'm so sorry. I should be back on a more regular scehdule very soon. Anyway, chapter six is finally done! So here you go!

The next week flew by in a blur. Of course, the shop was almost always empty except for the employees, and the days were rather boring.

Mr. Mushnik was less than pleased with Audrey's pregnancy, but somewhere deep down, Seymour highly doubted his boss would do much to act on this feeling. It's not like he can help it, anyway, Seymour considered. Besides, even Mr. Mushnik can show a little bit of compassion. Audrey brings out the best in everyone.

The sun was setting now, and everything in the shop had a purplish shade to it. Seymour was performing his regular closing duties when he heard a hesitant tapping on the glass door. He shambled over to open it, and to his astonishment, Audrey was standing there, holding a suitcase.

"Oh! Er, hi, Audrey!" Seymour greeted with a grin. She's back! "What-What brings you here?"

"I need your help."

Seymour's eyebrows flew up. What could she need me for?

"What's wrong?" he asked her, holding the door for her as she wandered inside.

"I can't live in my apartment anymore," Audrey admitted. "When I was with Orin, he- I guess he payed for everything. But now that he's gone, I can't afford to live there. I was wondering if I could stay here, at least until I can find somewhere else to live." She shook her head. "Never mind, I don't want to be any trouble." Audrey turned back toward the door.

"Of course you can stay here, Audrey!" Seymour exclaimed, not wanting her to leave. "You can stay as long as ya need to, 's long as Mister Mushnik says it's okay."

Hope made Audrey's eyes sparkle. "You mean that?"

"Uh'course! I don't mind it, really. Do you want me to take your things downstairs?"

"Downstairs?" she echoed.

"Well, yeah, if ya don't mind. There's a basement. It's not the nicest, sure, but it makes for a nice place to live. I've gotta bed down there, and a radio, if ya wanna listen to music. I s'pose I could move all my plants outta there…"

"I don't wanna intrude," Audrey interjected. "You live down there, right? I can't just take your room like that. I'll sleep unda' the counta', that'll do just fine."

Seymour froze, memories washing over him.

"You'll sleep under the counter, Krelborn."

"But sir, I don't have a blanket! How'm I gonna sleep without a blanket?"

"Not my problem. You're lucky I'm lettin' ya stay here at all. Would ya rather I took ya back to the home? Maybe you'll appreciate it more there, hmm?"

"Oh, no, sir! I appreciate it, I really do! I'll sleep under the counter, that'll do just fine."

Mr. Mushnik made me sleep there, like a dog. Nobody deserves to be treated like that, but especially not Audrey.

"Audrey, please. The counta's not very comfortable. I slept there as a boy, for almost six years, without even a blanket. I can figure somethin' out for myself, don't worry about it. You're my guest!" Seymour put all of his effort into making his face appear soft and pleading. You'll be better off here. It's no Levittown, but I've lived down there since I was fifteen. You'll like it, I promise. Or at least, I hope you'll like it. Please, Audrey, you mean more to me than anything in the entire world. Let me do this for you.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?"

Seymour nodded earnestly. "Absolutely. Here, let me take your bag." He lifted her suitcase from the floor beside her and headed toward the door to the basement. The clip-clop of heels behind him indicated that Audrey wasn't far behind. He turned the doorknob and held the door open so that she could go ahead of him. As he trudged down behind her, the window that looked across the street caught his eye. Does she know I spend hours there, daydreaming about her? Of course not, she's way out of my league. Mr. Mushnik makes it a point to remind me every day.

Seymour pushed the thought away and trotted down the remainder of the stairs. He set the suitcase down and spread his arms grandly.

"This is it," he announced. Audrey covered her mouth with her hand, obviously hiding a smile. Seymour's heart sank as he scanned the room. This place is a disaster. Why couldn't I have kept it clean? "Sorry for the mess. I'm not too good at keepin' my space clean."

Audrey laughed a little. "It's nice." Her face became serious. "Seymour, you really don't need to do this."

"Don't worry about it," he insisted. "You needed somewhere to live, and Mista' Mushnik doesn't charge for rent. 'Sides, I feel bad. I was the one who told ya to tell your boyfriend about the situation, and he ended up leavin' you with nothin'. I figured it was the least I could do."

"It wasn't your fault," Audrey replied. "I'm betta' off without 'im anyway." She glanced down at her wrists, then met Seymour's gaze again.

Seymour lifted her suitcase and handed it to her. "Make yourself at home. I'll go upstairs and find someplace to sleep." He started up the stairs.

"Seymour, wait." Surprised, Seymour turned around and poked his head around the wall.

"Yes?" he asked anxiously. She doesn't like it down here. It's the only place she can go and it's not good enough for her. Hell, nothing's good enough for her. She deserves the very best, and I can't get if for her.

"You can sleep down here, if ya want."

Seymour shuffled forward a few steps. "I'm fine, Audrey. I'll figure something out. I can go out in the alley or somethin', don't worry about it."

"Why don't you stay down here?"

Seymour shook his head. As much as he wanted to, he didn't live in the basement anymore. It was Audrey's now, and that was good enough for Seymour.

"I'm not gonna intrude. You deserve privacy."

"Seymour, I mean it," Audrey persisted. "You're not an animal. You've lived here a long time. It's you're home. I really wouldn't mind sharing."

"Well, if you're sure," Seymour responded, trying to sound defeated but secretly felt overjoyed. I'm gonna share a room with Audrey! She's gonna live in the shop! He didn't even care that they weren't together— he'd pretty much given up hope at this point— but it was better than nothing.

Audrey looked satisfied.

"But," Seymour continued. "I'm not talking the bed. This is your room now, an' you should be comfortable."

"But it's your room too," Audrey pointed out. "Why can't you be comfortable?"

"Don' worry about me. I'll figure somethin' out. I'd take the blanket from the bed, but there aren't any more. I'll sleep on a pile'a towels, Mista' Mushnik has plenty'a those." Besides… Seymour glanced at her belly for a moment. Sleeping on the floor can't be good for the baby. "Audrey, I insist. It's the least I can do."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," Seymour reassured her, allowing a soft smile. "I'll get the towels from Mista' Mushnik's closet an' set up camp." He tilted his head slightly to the left "You're gonna be alright."