"Awww!" whined Alex and his sister Eva when their mother said it was time to go home and Uncle Tom still hadn't awoken, meaning they still hadn't gotten to see him yet.

"I know you're disappointed but you know Uncle Tom is healing," Anna told them. "We'll just have to come back tomorrow." This seemed to perk them up.

There were so many photographs across the Kazansky household which Sarah thought was a wonderful idea. Many were of Tom in his pre-pilot days, with more natural golden blond hair that was longer and swept down over and across his forehead, making him appear boyish. She loved it, but his spiky hair definitely fit his 'Iceman' persona.

"I was so excited when he called saying he was bringing his girlfriend home!" Marta told her as she brought over their tea into the living room. "He sounded so happy and excited himself that I almost forgot he was injured, my baby..."

Sarah was itching to ask her about the worry, how she dealt with it, but felt it was too personal a question, at least as of right now. Maybe later, after she had gotten to know the family better.

She was glad to have met everyone but was exhausted herself after the travel and introductions and getting settled. So she thanked the Kazansky women and excused herself to her room - well, Tom's room, his old room - collapsed on the bed and was asleep within minutes.

When she awoke she felt more refreshed but also wouldn't mind some more time to herself. She got some reading done and was compiling a list of notes for an upcoming phone call with Jerry when there came a tap at the door.

"Hello?"

The door opened and a bed-headed Tom peeked into the room. "Hi, can I come in?"

"Well it is your room," she joked, and waved him in.

He came to sit next to her on the bed, which squealed in protest at the weight of two grown adults on the teenager's bed.

"How are you feeling?" she asked him.

"Bored," he admitted. "Honestly, I'm well-rested. If I have to pretend to be resting for another minute-"

"So you haven't been resting?" she said, mock scolding him. "Don't make me tell your mother."

"You wouldn't." He lay his hand across his chest in mock-offence, making her laugh. "How are you settling in?"

"Great, I've rested too, and everyone is so wonderful and inviting. I also love your room."

He winced a little. "It's all right."

"You have the perfect window for stargazing," she remarked.

He chuckled. "You checked."

"I sure did. First thing. The view from my bedroom window is pretty good, but my parents got me a big telescope for a joined birthday and Bat Mitzvah gift years ago and that enhanced it. I'll have to show you sometime. Great view. A friend of mine and I used it to spy on the neighbours once."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, caught them cheating."

"Oh, yikes."

"Yeah, then it was back to strictly stargazing after that."

"So you were already interested in the stars at age twelve?"

"Oh yes, and long before that. I've always had a fascination with it all. And the first moon landing-" She trailed off for emphasis. "I was ecstatic. Maybe I'll never make it to the moon myself, but I'll be close enough if I can stick with all this."

"Hmm." He smiled and got up and went over to said window. "I never really noticed."

"Come back once it's dark and I'll show you."

"It's a date." He winked. "Which we still have to do."

"Yeah, I guess the current circumstances haven't really allowed it."

"Yeah, and the hospital and my childhood home aren't my first choices. The hospital, not at all, and yeah I wanted to introduce you to my family, but it's not really a date."

"Well we have lots of time to come up with something."

"We sure do - I'm going to wow you with our first official date."

She laughed. "Okay, Kazansky. My mind is running wild."

"As it should. Prepare to be amazed, Dr. Coleman." He winked again.

"Tomas!" came Marta's voice calling. "Tomas! Why are you out of bed?"

"I'm not tired anymore, Mama!" He gave one last wave to Sarah before heading down the hall to meet his mom. Sarah laughed after him.

"UNCLE TOM! YOU'RE AWAKE!"

The next time Anna and family arrived, the kids plowed headfirst into their Uncle Tom, who indeed was awake and out of bed this time.

"Alex, Eva, careful!" cried Anna. "He's still injured.

But Tom was fine. "Oh my goodness - you're both so big! It's been so long since I've seen you!"

"We missed you!"

"I missed you too!"

Seeing him interact with the kids was so heartwarming it made Sarah's heart swell. Tom Kazansky was a family man, no doubt about it.

After seeing his niece and nephews and brothers in law, Marta sent Tom back to bed to rest after all the excitement. He begrudgingly agreed.

"I took this one, during a family day at the beach," Marta said.

"Aww, so sweet," Sarah gushed over a photo of child Tom standing in between his sisters, holding each of their hands. He was tall right from the beginning, and had been gifted with that big, beautiful smile since the very start as well.

Marta was excited to show her family photos, and Sarah was more than happy to oblige. They poured over album after album of family photos, including relations back in Russia before the big Kazansky move to the States. The photos in the books almost rivaled those in the frames all around the house - almost.

The first few days of being in California were a whirlwind and sped by in a blur. With the mix of meeting and getting to know everyone, getting herself settled, working, and helping out as much around the house and with Tom as possible (Marta was eager to treat her as a long-staying guest, but Sarah was determined to do her part as well), she and Tom actually saw very little of each other during those first few days of their visit.

When he awoke from yet another resting period, Sarah came to give him the medicine the doctor had prescribed. The guest room was small and plainer than the other rooms in the house, but still full of character. A giant bed took up most of the space, and on it, his feet very nearly hanging off the edge, lay Tom.

"I'm so bored," he complained, flopping against the pillows after taking his medicine. "I'm so tired of resting that I'm tired!"

She chuckled. She knew that for a guy with a very traditionally busy lifestyle, all this sitting around must be difficult. Difficult but necessary, especially if he wanted to return to that traditional busy lifestyle, and sooner rather than later. "I could read to you from one of my big science books, that tends to put people right to sleep."

"We could try it - I'd like to listen to you read aloud, at least."

There came a tap at the door and Anna peeked her head in. "We're going out, if you're feeling up to it."

"Yes, thank God!" Tom was up and on his feet in seconds.

"Mama's watching the kids and we're going to the beach - want to join?"

"Beach sounds awesome."

"We were thinking we could play some volleyball."

Sarah and Tom exchanged a glance and burst out laughing.

Whew, work has been so busy but I'm glad to have gotten this chapter out there! Aw the comments and love for this story are making me so happy, thank you all! :D

Thank you all so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)