It was 6:30am on the 29th when her plane set down on the runway at Logan. Rosie waited for everyone else to get off the plane before making a move, still stretching and moving the life back into her tired limbs. She had been stuck next to a surly businessman the whole flight, and was dying to pee (she'd been too nervous to get past him), so went to freshen up before collecting her suitcase. It seemed a lot of people were on the move in the time between Christmas and New Years, so she had to navigate her way through a sea of irritable passengers, then stood in a long line to get the coach heading for downtown. She swayed with exhaustion the whole time she waited.

Rosie tossed her keys into the dish by the door, kicking off her boots and slowly unwrapping herself. She'd bought breakfast nearby, and the smell was killing her. She left her bags in the hall and collapsed on the sofa to savage it. Murdock, her roommate's tortoiseshell tomcat, picked at the crumbs around her feet. She was still eating when she heard Gabrielle stirring.

"Jesus!" The other girl stopped dead in the door, palm to her chest. "You scared the shit outta me!"

"Morning." She managed around a large mouthful.

"How was it?"

"Good." Rosie was really too focused on her food to converse. "There's some cookies and a hand towel for you...somewhere..."

Gabrielle followed the gesture to her luggage, but didn't check. "Your mom didn't need to get me anything."

"There's no talking to her. Take it. Sell it. Dump it. I don't care."

"Coffee?"

"No. I'm about to go to bed."

Her roommate peered out of the kitchen at her. "Isn't Lover Boy in town today?"

Rosie chewed faster, checking her watch. "That's exactly why I need a nap. Stat."

Out as soon as her head hit the pillow, Rosie fell into a dreamless nothing. It was great to see her family, especially after missing the holidays last year, but boy did they take a lot out of her. Didn't help that there was more every year. More in-laws to entertain. More kids running around the table. More chaos.

She wished Eddie could have been there; she suspected he would enjoy the anarchy.

Somewhere, in the depths of her slumber, she heard the phone ringing. Let it. Just a couple more minutes. She was so, so tired.

It didn't stop ringing. Rosie blinked awake and grumbled loudly, scaring Murdock off the bed. She knocked the base off her locker as she answered.

"Whaaaat?!"

"Rosie!"

A thrill ran through her. So soon? "Eddie? Are you here?"

"No. Listen, babe. I'm so sorry..."

Her heart sank. "What is it?"

"I-I think I left too late." He explained. "And with traffic the way it is now...I don't think I'll be there today."

"But you're on the way?"

"Yeah."

A sigh of relief. "That's okay."

"It is?"

"Yeah. I just arrived this morning, you know." A yawn. "That gives me more time to clean up."

He was fussing. "I'm really sorry, Babe."

"It's not a problem. Really. So long as you're coming."

"I'm on the way. I'll be there. No matter what."

They talked a little longer, but she was still only half-there. Eddie apologized two more times before they hung up. As she righted the phone, the cat returned to cuddle, purring.

"Such a fusspot." She told him, scratching his ear. "Fuss fuss fuss."

It really wasn't a problem. Rosie understood that shit tended to happen. All over one's plans. She had partially prepared for some sort of delay, knowing how crazy driving could be around the holidays.

Still, that didn't stop the weird empty feeling from creeping into her heart as the day wore on. Gabrielle tended to spend most of her time out with friends, leaving her to bathe, eat, and eventually drink, completely alone. It was past 9pm, and she was enjoying her second glass of wine with her book, when the other girl came through the door.

"Rosie?" She flipped on the light, ruining the ambiance.

"Eveninggg. There's more in the bottle, if you want some."

Gabrielle looked into her bedroom, then the bathroom, then leaned over the sofa. "Where's this famous boyfriend of yours?"

"He's coming tomorrow."

"I thought you said the 29th."

"I did. He got delayed on the way up.." She turned the page. "He'll be here tomorrow."

The other woman sucked her teeth. "Men."

"It's not that big a deal."

"I'm telling you. First he's 5 minutes late to a date. Then a day late to visit -"

"Gabs." Rosie cut her off. "Not a big deal."

"He better come through that door on his knees with...roses. Or a ring. Something."

"Not your call."

"My apartment."

Gabrielle had, on numerous occasions, made it clear she did not like Eddie. Despite having never met him, she seemed convinced he lived just to bring Rosie down. Despite everything Rosie said to the contrary. She might have fed into it, in the beginning, when she was at her angriest and still bitter from their separation, but now that she had healed she just found it weird and juvenile.

Rosie marked her book, picked up her glass, thought for a second on the way out, and brought the whole damn bottle into her room.

Gabrielle didn't say anything when she left the next morning. She actually left the kitchen in a mess. Apparently she had gotten it into her head to make waffles before running out on her usual escapades. There wasn't even enough batter left in the bowl for Rosie, so she made another batch. Enough for her to leave a couple aside for Eddie whenever he rolled in.

As though summoned by the power of cakes, there was a rap on the door in the middle of her breakfast. Rosie looked down at her stained pyjamas and swore. When he was trying to get her attention, Eddie had this habit of knocking incessantly until she opened the door. The continual tap tap tap tap tap nearly sent her over the edge.

"Coming! I'm coming!"

"Hiii!" He had bought flowers. Eddie held the little bouquet up proudly as the door swung open. Rosie nearly crushed the whole thing when she threw herself at him.

"Hi." His arms wrapped around her. She felt a deep sigh move his chest. He smelled the same. Like leather and smoke and a hint of cologne. His breath was still minty, and she wondered if he had brushed his teeth in the van. "Hi."

They both started giggling. Eddie running his fingers through her hair, rocking them both giddily. "Hi."

She turned his face to her. Those warm brown eyes drinking her in. His cheeks were slightly pink in his excitement. A kiss, then a pause. Him touching her and gazing at her like he thought she might disappear.

"Hi." She repeated again, stupidly. Forgotten what else she had meant to say.

Eddie's thumb ran down her cheek. "You're so pretty."

Rosie snorted. Stained pyjamas. Uncombed hair. Syrup still coating her lips. She was definitely not at her best. Leaning up to kiss him again, she pulled him backward and shut the door. "Come on. I made waffles."