Nathan stared at the books from Deb's Den taken for the previous three months. He studied them hard along with the other material spread out on the kitchen table. There were estimates and receipts, copies of orders and tentative plans for the next month. He scratched his chin that was now covered with a few days worth of scruff due to not shaving. His mother had been right. It took a hell of a lot to run an establishment. And she had always been on top of things. No wonder she made herself sick.

"Hey", Brooke said, coming in from the front door.

Nathan looked up and gave her a tired smile.

"Hey."

She noticed the pile sat out before him.

"Trying to get everything situated?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Something like that."

"So", Brooke said as she reached for a piece of fruit. "I hear you're sticking around. Is that right?"

"For a little while. Mom's gonna need all the help she can get both here and at the Den."

"You know, that's really nice of you. Your mom has been really good to me. If you need anything at all, please just ask."

"Actually, I could use your help."

Brooke took a seat beside him.

"What's up?"

"Mom will be released from the hospital in a few days. She's gonna really need to take it easy."

"I know. I'll do whatever to make sure she is comfortable around the house and has everything she needs."

"Thanks. See, the thing is, we're going to have to make a lot of changes. I know you rent the room downstairs and it's a pretty decent size and you have your privacy but I need to ask you a huge favor. With me moving back in for a while and Lucas being here too, well…it will get crowded real quick upstairs. So I was thinking, let Luke and me move downstairs and you come up and take my old room. It would just be for a little while and I'll cut you a deal on the price and…"

"Say no more."

"Really?" Nathan asked surprised.

Sometimes Brooke even surprised herself with her new and improved considerate, unselfish behavior.

"Really. It's no big deal. I don't mind."

"Okay. Um, thanks."

"Anything else?"

"I just might have to put you on for a couple of more work shifts…"

"No problem. Whatever you have to do."

Nathan chuckled.

"That was easy. Thanks."

"For what?"

"For not making this any harder than it has to be."

Brooke smiled at him.

"I know this must be hard for you. You've got a lot to deal with. And Deb is a great lady. I'll do whatever you guys need."

"This is cool. I'm just glad I have you and Luke around."

Brooke rolled her eyes.

"Whatever", she mumbled.

"Whoa!" he put his hands up. "What's going on with that one?"

She shrugged.

"You mean your prince of a brother?"

"He's not that bad."

"He can be."

"He has a good heart underneath it all."

Brooke grinned at him.

"I get it. Is this what you do in your spare time?"

"What?"

"Defend your big brother?"

Nathan looked right at her. It was his turn to laugh.

"Okay. I take it you and Luke haven't exactly got off on the right foot. It happens sometimes. He tends to rub people the wrong way at first. But you just have to get to know him."

"That's what your mom says too. Maybe so but I don't know. I keep waiting to see this so called good side but Lucas does a pretty good job of hiding it. Time will tell, I guess."

"I guess", Nathan agreed. "Oh and for the record…I don't have any spare time, especially not now."

He winked at her and then there was a knock at the door. Both turned around to see Daytona on the other side. Brooke, smiled, opened it, then headed back downstairs to begin packing for her move.

"Hey", Daytona smiled.

"Hey."

They shared a brief peck on the lips.

"You look busy…and tired."

"Yes and yes", he directed her to a seat. "It's cool though. I'm almost done. I just have to figure this stuff out. Um where is Coop?"

"Still at the hospital with your mom. I just left them."

"How is she?"

"Much better. I guess they're going to release her soon."

"Yeah…"

"Cooper has a lot of work things to do so I know he won't stay here long."

"Yeah. He just wanted to make sure she's okay. I know he has to get back soon."

Daytona nervously played with her hands.

"Um, what about you? How long do you plan on staying?"

Nathan shrugged.

"I don't know. For a while I guess. I need to help look after Mom and run the Den."

Daytona nodded.

"Oh."

Nathan sighed.

"I know you don't understand. You probably think I'm stupid…"

"No, no. It's not that. I do understand, Nate. This what you have to do. Deb is your mother and it's the right thing. I think you should stay but I won't lie. I'm gonna miss you a lot."

"I'll miss you, too."

"I, um, I have to head back in a few days and all. I have work and there's this race at this track in Georgia next week…"

"That's cool. You should go."

"I know but part of me doesn't want to. I feel guilty leaving you."

"Don't. I don't want you to. You have your own life and your work and I know how much you love to race. You're really making a name for yourself on the circuit. I don't want you to walk away from all that."

"And I don't want to walk away from you", she added softly.

"Daytona…"

"Just hear me out, Nate. Um, you know how much I care about you. I've liked you for a long time and just recently I felt like we were really making progress. I understand and respect that your family comes first and I'm really proud of you for stepping up in this situation but I can't help but feel a little selfish. I mean, where does this leave me? Where does it leave us? If there even is an us…"

Her voice trailed off and she looked away. Nathan gently tilted her chin so that they were facing each other.

"You're a good friend, Daytona. I really care about you, too. You know that. I don't know where we're headed but wherever it is, I'd like to stick with it and see how it goes. I'm sorry our first date got ruined and I'm sorry we'll be so far apart for the next few months or whatever but I'd like to make it up to you. And if you still want, I don't know, maybe we could give it another try. What do you say?"

A wide smile spread across her lips.

"Really? You mean all that?"

Nathan nodded and stroked her cheek.

"Yeah."

"Okay. Um, I mean of course. I…I'd really like that."

Their hands found each other and rubbed together gently.

"Me too."

And with their eyes locked, Nathan ran his fingers through her soft, long hair and tenderly pulled her neck closer to him. Her face tilted up and their lips met. They kissed softly and gingerly, tongues caressing as their lips finally parted. It was sweet but passionate.

"You okay?" Nathan asked, finally slowly pulling away.

Daytona gave him a big smile.

"Never been better."