I really like this chapter (also, if you haven't noticed, I love making Marie the replacement Mom in all of my stories because she just is) so I hope you'll enjoy it too.

"See ya," Soul barely paused in the hallway as he was walking towards the door. He wasn't even sure why he bothered to say goodbye in the first place since Maka didn't need to know his comings and goings but if she was sitting on the couch as he walked out he couldn't seem to stop himself. Another habit.

His hand was on the doorknob when he heard the patter of her feet, the nervousness rising her voice by an octave, "Wait!"

Soul did as ordered, leaving his hand on the knob but throwing his head over his shoulder.

"Every other Sunday you get dressed up and you're gone half the day."

He nodded a reply mostly because he liked the way it made her squirm.

Maka huffed as she tried to find the right place for her hands, not sure of the accusatory nature of hands on hips so she settled for the casual cross her chest. "Where do you go?"

Soul raised his eyebrows for a second before settling into a smirk. "Why don't you find out?"

"What?" That absolutely wasn't the answer Maka was expecting and her green eyes went wide, any comeback falling to the wayside.

Soul shrugged, "You really want to know, follow me."

Maka looked down at the sundress she'd been lounging in before hesitantly bringing her eyes back to him. "Can I wear this?"

He chuckled, turning back to the door and opening it. "Put on your shoes and let's go." Soul was already halfway down the corridor before she caught up, falling in step with him.

"Aren't you going to be hot?"

Soul rolled his eyes to warm up for later, sure the endless questions would produce at least five or six more. "Yeah."

"Then why the long sleeves? The slacks?" Her shoulder was bumping into his every few steps as if close was the only way she could talk to him.

"First lesson of the day," he risked a glance at her, hating the way that smile lit up her face. "Think about it, Maka. Exercise your street-smarts."

"You're not going to church, that's for sure." Maka dipped into him for added effect, getting the laugh she wanted out of the tap of their shoulder. "Another job as a waiter?"

Soul shook his head firmly.

She picked at his sleeve, pulling the fabric off the skin that was already starting to sweat as they rounded the first block. "You're hiding."

Should have been your first guess, but second is alright. He bit the negativity off the statement, offering her only, "Good. Why?"

"It's not the kind of attention you want," Maka murmured. "Where you're going you need to look regular." She hated using that word and considering grabbing his hand for it, but his face stayed unphased, eyes ahead as he pushed her towards the subway stairs.

Neither admonishment nor praise came from his mouth as he assumed the now everyday position of her in front and him looming behind. As they moved through the turnstile he tapped her right elbow and she moved down the corridor in that direction. Another tap took her to the stairs to the platform of the purple line. His lips were pressed shut and all she could do was continue to pick at his shirt, forcing the fabric to billow as if she could cool him that way. After the fourth or fifth pull, he swatted at her hand but Maka could swear there was a hint of a smirk on his lips.

The car came to a screeching halt and Soul followed her in. After sitting down, his eyes always scanned every inch of the car but somehow made it seem like it wasn't important, that his search was following a dust mite as it floated around in the air, not trying to pinpoint any ounce of trouble that could come their way. Maka tried to copy him and as her head moved around she felt the rumble of a laugh caught in his throat through their connected shoulders. "You look ridiculous."

"Then you look ridiculous because that's what you do," she muttered back.

"Casual, like you're checking out somebody else's shoes. You're not trying to see the sailboat in the optical illusion." This time the laugh actually passed over his lips.

Maka huffed before falling into practice again. It was becoming hard to concentrate because she could feel him relax, his shoulder pressing a little more into hers as his fingers tapped at his knees. He was finally smirking, not the full-strength model but something halfway there. "That tapping's annoying," she murmured as she put her hand over top of his.

That was the first time his eyes dipped from the scenery, focused for all the time he could spare on the new connection. Soul tested his fingers underneath, tapping with the added pressure of her palm and couldn't lie to himself and say he didn't enjoy it.

"Annoying," she repeated as her fingers clenched tighter.

You're playing a dangerous game, Eater, but the admonishment fell to the back of his mind as he rotated his wrist, his palm meeting hers and allowing for their fingers to intertwine. Another perilous second taken as he looked to her face, a tiny line of pink that could just be the heat coloring her cheeks. Take your hand away. Because if you don't, she will, and do you want to find out if you're pathetic enough to be hurt by a girl not holding your hand? There was no more fidgeting from either of them, hands anchored together as eyes went back to watching the ins and outs of the car.

Soul tried to take his hand back as he stood but Maka used it as the anchor to bring herself to her feet, even refusing as they started out of the car and onto the platform. Make less space, don't run into people, be unseen. He couldn't stop himself from holding onto the connection. But doesn't it make you look more normal? Just a guy holding a girl's hand on the subway as natural as can be. It blends you in. That was a logic he could adopt as he walked up the stairs, guiding her back into the sunlight.

They'd spent two blocks back on the street before Maka squeezed his hand. "You're taking me backward."

"Surprised you noticed," his raised eyebrows punctuated this as the truth.

"At this rate, you could have stopped two stations before."

"Yup." He pulled her quickly down an alleyway, cutting cooly out of the sunshine. "Second lesson. Why?"

"You're paranoid," Maka offered with a laugh.

"You say that like it's a bad thing," he muttered. "You're the only guest I wanted to bring here." His stomach churned as the other meaning there snuck up on him. Why had he even bothered to invite her? Why not make up some lame excuse or just blow her off completely? Instead, he was bringing her to the house, an action filled with consequences that he hadn't even let his brain consider. I've fucked myself today, came with a long, lingering sigh.

"I'm a guest?" The light amusement in her voice killed him and he made sure to tell that wobble feeling in his stomach to quit it.

"Wonder if you'll regret it," he managed to produce half a smirk, almost disgusted looking rather than amused.

"Depends, is there food?" She giggled and her laugh was contagious, pulling at his heartstrings enough that he broke the connection between their hands.

It was time, anyway, since he was only a step away from the stoop. "Marie rarely disappoints." Plus, it's special. Of all fucking days.

He didn't even get to ring the doorbell, the heavy door flinging open on its hinges as the already ecstatic blond woman rushed onto the stoop. Marie was already pushing past Soul, practically tossing him off the concrete as she placed herself in front of Maka. "I'm Marie, and you are?"

Soul huffed as the introductions were so unceremoniously stolen from him.

"Maka," she blinked as her eyes went between Soul and Marie.

"Come in, Maka!" Marie grabbed her hand, pulling Maka into the house with only a desperate glance from those green eyes before she disappeared.

"Nice to see you, too, Marie," Soul muttered as he walked in behind them, shutting the door quickly. As soon as he was in he started unbuttoning his shirt, thankful for the air conditioning but ready to be rid of the horror that was his office clothes.

"Franken! Shelley!" Marie was frantic with excitement and Soul could feel the blood rushing to his face.

How are you going to excuse this?

He had his shirt off and thrown on the end of the banister, his white undershirt a blessed reprieve and the only thing bringing comfort as Franken sauntered down the stairs and locked eyes with Maka. "Oh, a guest."

"She's Maka," Marie offered happily.

"Hello!" Maka was managing as much cheer as possible given the situation and Soul couldn't bring himself to look at her, just studying the raised eyebrows on Franken's face.

A devious grin parted Franken's lips as he reached the landing, hand outstretched to Soul. "Soul."

"Stein." Stein shook Soul's hand with a little more gusto than usual, adding to that irritation in his stomach.

It didn't seem possible that Stein could get that smile any wider but there it was, busting at the seams. "You brought a guest."

Soul could swear he heard Marie echo another 'She's Maka' but thankfully he was saved by the bell, or really, the seven-year-old squeal as Shelley zoomed past her father and launched herself into Soul's arms. "Soul!" Maka had almost expected that cry to be 'papa' with the amount of enthusiasm that came behind it and how the delicate-looking girl with long, white-blond hair and seafoam eyes kissed at his cheek. "Happy birthday, Soul!"

Birthday? Maka's heart leaped into her mouth and it was everything she could do to keep herself from adopting a very deer-in-the-headlights stare. It's his birthday and this must be his family and I invited myself along like it was no big deal. There was simply a torrent of mortification from her head to her toes. Not to mention, the last time he cried after seeing his mother. Maka risked a glance at Marie and wondered at how this woman could make him weep like that.

Marie was still prepared to show off, "Shelley, he brought a guest, too. Say hello to Maka."

"Hello," was barely audible as the little girl hid her face against Soul's.

Maka watched as Soul murmured to her, a hand coming to rub at her back as Shelley refused to let her head be anywhere else but hidden in the crux of his neck.

"Sorry, she's a little obsessed," Marie leaned in and motioned towards Soul. "We don't get much attention when he's here either." Marie brought a hand to Maka's shoulder. "Mind helping me in the kitchen?"

Soul started to grimace, "Hey, Marie-"

"No, it's alright," Maka waved a slow hand at him. "Shelley needs you anyway, birthday boy." She had to contain a laugh at the sour way his face shriveled as the secrets were thrown back at him. "I'll help." That was enough of an offer for Marie to pull her out of the living room and into a snug little kitchen.

It did actually start off as helping, Marie handing her various tasks as she juggled pots and pans on the stove. A beautifully decorated cake sat on the counter and Maka found herself continuing to glance at it through the jobs. He never said anything, and even the girls at the office didn't breathe a word. Maka was sure she was opening the floodgates but couldn't help herself. "Did you make the cake?"

Marie released a breath like she had been holding it in since they entered the kitchen. "I make one every year! And he hates it, I know it, but he's good about it. He cheats and lets Shelley blow out the candles as if he needs to do another thing to win more favor with her."

"He's so sweet with his sister," Maka murmured as she let her mind steal back to that juxtaposition.

Marie paused, warm brown eyes blinking in Maka's direction. "I'm sure Shelley wishes she was his sister." As Maka's face fell Marie shook her head. "That idiot didn't tell you who we were, did he? Probably just gave you the silent treatment from the subway."

"Oh, well…" Maka was in the middle of formulating excuses but Marie was already rolling her eyes, throwing her head back to her work.

"I guess the best term is we fostered Black Star or Blake since he was a baby." Marie paused, eyes tentatively turning back to Maka's. "You're not part of it either, are you? And if you say 'it?' right now I might scream because I'm going to need a stronger word than idiot for him."

"I'm not," Maka murmured. "And I guess he's told me what I should know about it."

Marie turned her head and spoke to the stove, "I don't know if that's a relief or not. Are you two…?"

"Roommates," Maka finished quickly. "We work together. Blake, too."

"Sure." Marie's tone was completely unconvincing but thankfully she left the subject as it was. "Well, Soul's been in and out of this house since he was twelve, more in than out now that he's technically out. He's been good enough to come every other week now that he's allowed."

"Allowed?" The choice of wording seemed strange and Maka watched for a change in Marie's face as she started the explanation.

"We have rules here. Franken… well, let's just say he's a homebody for good now. Leaving the house is out of the question and the potential of attracting someone to the house is astronomical if you're still in the organization. Hence, no current members are allowed in this house." Marie sighed longingly as she stepped back from the oven. "Which means our son can't be here, so Soul takes it on himself to be here instead."

"I'm sorry," Maka's voice sounded weak and warbly, so Maka put a soft hand on Marie's arm.

"Me, too," Marie murmured. "So the least we can do is give him something close to a birthday."

What about his parents? flitted across Maka's mind but she refused it, sure that if that knowledge was to be hers it should come from his lips. "And I'm sorry, I… I don't mean to put your husband in danger."

"Husband?" Marie snorted. "Oh, please mention that. I've been trying to convince him since Shelley was born but 'a dead man doesn't get married' is always what I get."

"He looks breathing to me," Maka laughed.

That took Marie by surprise and she found herself braying a laugh. "Oh, I like you, but I have to say I'm still surprised. Not that Soul's not handsome, but bringing girls home hasn't been his specialty."

"We're just roommates, Marie," Maka tried to remind gently. She took a step back and her arms wrapped around herself as the thought 'but he held your hand today' echoed in the back of her head. And you started it. You put your hand there for a reason.

"That's right." Marie was reading her mind, though, a motherly, knowing smile breaking her lips. "Why don't you tell my husband to come set the table and your roommate to coax my daughter to wash up?"

"Of course." Maka was in a hurry to do as she was told, trying to look composed as she walked back into the living room. The sight that greeted her made that impossible as Soul was lounging on the couch, the stark white of his tank making the scarlet hues and black of his tattoos pop. It was a look that made Maka have to swat away the agreement with Marie - he is handsome. She caught him in another moment of sweetness as well, his hand in the process of smoothing back Shelley's hair as they chattered back and forth.

Soul's eyes darted to hers as a smirk broke across his face. "Cat got your tongue?"

"You were talking," Maka huffed. "Franken, Marie would like you to set the table." Stein eased out of the chair opposite of the pair before sneaking past Maka. She could barely make the step forward, nervously toeing the carpet. "And Shelley's supposed to go wash up."

That earned her a glare from the little one.

"Hey," Soul snapped and Shelley's attention instantly pivoted to him. "Get going." As she flopped off the couch, so did he, following her until he met Maka toe to toe. "Sorry. She's a good kid, just trained not to like strangers."

Maka furrowed her brow at him, "That's not what it is."

"No?" Soul raised his.

"Your hers," Maka grinned.

Soul laughed sharply, "Come on."

"No, really," Maka urged back. "You belong to her and maybe it looks like I'm cutting in."

His smirk was still there but it was tight, his hands flexing at his side. "New people don't come into this house, that's all it is."

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?" Soul tilted his head.

Maka bit her lip, tentatively playing over the words. He brought you here. He held your hand. Something, something is happening. "Refuse to let people care about you."

He jolted back as if she'd slapped him in the face.

"Or just… refuse to let yourself think that people care about you," Maka corrected.

"Maka…" he barely let it out, just letting whatever air was left in his lungs force it out.

"Dinner!" Shelley chimed as she bounded back in, knocking into Soul's legs that were already feeling on the verge of buckling.

"Thanks, kid," Soul muttered as he threw his eyes away from Maka. Ridiculous, but even though it was in his mind it still came out as a weak whisper, no strength of conviction. He couldn't stop that from setting a tone, his jaw working more on the thoughts than the food as he sat at the table opposite her. You brought her here. Dangerous on so many levels.

Marie had kept Maka close but finally tore her attention away. "How's work, Soul?"

"Fine," he muttered as he stabbed his fork uselessly into a potato. His shin lit up as Maka kicked him under the table, sending his eyebrows furrowing at her.

"Tell her about the last project," Maka hissed.

"Uh," Soul let his mouth hang open with the sound until Maka sent another swift tap under the table, leaving him no choice but to suck in air to produce the story. "Client apparently thought we were the only choice, but that could just mean all the other agencies were trash."

Maka sighed, "It means that Soul hasn't lost a client to someone else in four straight offers."

"You'll jinx it," he muttered.

She rolled her eyes before biting her lip to keep the glowing smile toned down. Soul watched as she nudged Marie. "He's really putting in the work towards lead project manager."

Marie raised her eyebrows, "Lead project manager?"

"Maka," he griped.

"What, you didn't tell your family about-"

"They're not my-" Soul stood up abruptly, sending his utensils clattering against the plate. A string of curses slipped between his teeth as he stormed away from the table, disappearing into the hallway.

Maka was a second away from getting up when Marie put her hand on her shoulder, keeping her planted in the chair. "I'll be right back," Marie murmured. Her footsteps were slow in comparison, following his trail out through the kitchen and through the door to a small, fenced-in backyard.

Soul was standing in the middle of it, the sweat starting on the back of his neck from the unexpected exposure to the heat and emotions he wasn't exactly prepared for today. "Maka, just-" he turned to stare at the wrong blond. Why did I expect here there? Why did I need her to be there? "Sorry, Marie."

Marie sighed as she sat on the stoop, waving him over. Soul hesitated but knew there was no way to refuse her so he hunkered down, his knee pressed to hers. "You know, every morning I recite my shit list in my mind."

Soul shook his head like his ears needed a cleaning, "What?"

"People I wish I could punch in the face, at least." Marie started holding up fingers as each name left her lips. "Justin, may he rest in hell for what he did to BJ. Medusa for almost taking Stein from me and for poisoning my two boys." She paused to look at him and run her fingers through his hair. "And if we trickle down the list, still top ten, your mother."

His tongue snapped against the roof of his mouth, "Marie…"

"Because while I can blame Medusa all I want for her brainwashing, and I do, I can't blame her for the reason you listened in the first place." Marie brushed his hair again even though he resisted, swatting her hand away for good measure. "Your mother, your parents, left a hole in you, honey. A big, empty, gaping mess that you refuse to let anybody fill. And that's the problem right there. I tried, try, you have to admit I do, and Stein does his best. I thank whatever higher power every day that Shelley at least has a strong footing in there."

Soul sighed, "Shelley-"

"When you held that baby the first time, I saw it, don't try to lie to me," she prodded. "And her birthday two years ago, the day after you came here and said you were done." Marie let out a warbling breath. "To be honest, I was afraid. I didn't doubt you - once you get something in your head it's stuck - but I was sure something would trigger that emptiness and you'd get sucked back in, especially with Black Star refusing to follow your lead. But when Sid called about a girl, and I saw that girl, Maka," Marie let out a wistful sigh. "You can tell me to mind my business, I'll take it, but please tell me that's a step in the right direction."

"She's my roommate."

She wished that he was looking at her to see the well-practiced roll of her eyes. "That you brought to a house that you know you shouldn't bring people to because you wanted her here for your birthday. Even though I bet you didn't even tell her it was your birthday."

Marie should have just stabbed him in the gut since it would have been less traumatic. "I didn't want her here. She tagged along."

"Oh, give me a break," Marie groaned. "Is this middle school? Are you going to pull her pigtails next? Soul Evans, get a grip."

"Marie!" He threw his head in her direction, trying to be indignant but the petulance in his voice made him grimace.

"Admit it, you wanted to tell her," Marie cooed. "The minute she asked, or you offered, though I doubt that one, you jumped on it, didn't you?"

His silence was the truth Marie wanted.

"Because she's starting to fill that spot, isn't she?" Marie risked smoothing his hair again, finding him pliable. "And I hope you're letting her find her place with you."

Soul leaned into her, allowing Marie to move from his hair to wrapping around his shoulder. He waited for a few breaths to pass before he whispered, "I do love you, Marie."

"Oh, I know that," it was a scolding that ended with a sniffle. "And you love Shelley and Stein, to some degree. And we all love you." She let him go just to grab under his chin, getting his eyes to focus in on her. "You're just the second baby Stein brought me, maybe just twelve years later than the first. We are your family and there's always room for more."

"Marie, I don't know if she'll even-"

"Let her decide that, huh?" Marie gave his chin a tap before she let her hand fall. "Especially since we have a cake to get to." Soul got up first, helping Marie from the stoop and into the kitchen. She made him do the heavy lifting, carrying the cake back to the dining room of expectant faces. He tried not to meet Maka's eyes but he was helpless, focusing on them beyond the candles' flames. There wasn't annoyance or hurt, or any of the millions of other emotions he could have imagined her to have in the reaction to what he perceived as childishness. It was just a simple smile on her lips, her eyes moving around the room and absorbing the scene without judgment.

He watched as she dipped her head to Stein, "Do we sing?"

"Absolutely not," Shelley corrected almost instantly with a swift shake of her head.

"No," Stein emphasized.

Marie waited until he put the cake on the table before putting a soft hand on his shoulder. "Well, birthday boy, make a wish."

Soul beckoned Shelley over to him with a finger and she happily bopped over to his side of the table. He leaned closer to her and whispered, "Both of us, OK?"

"Why?" Shelley looked up at him.

"I actually have a wish this year," he murmured. "Don't think the candles will listen if I don't blow them out, too."

"OK," Shelley shrugged off the change easily as Soul wrapped an arm around her.

"One, two, three." He blew with her, watching the lights deaden as he let the idea drift through his head. I want to live my life. All of it. Eating cake at least allowed for silence and while that was usually his sanctuary, it encouraged the constant trickle of thoughts in the back of his head. Marie's right. Black Star's right. But I feel like each time I try, I choke. She charges in every time but I'm stuck. Come on, Maka, give me a little of your courage. On cue her eyes cut to his, that smile brightening as color came to her cheeks.

"Well, we can't keep you any longer," Marie clapped her hands together and sent a look to her youngest in an attempt to beg for silence. There was a soft groan as Shelly's hand gripped onto Soul's shirt.

"Two weeks, kid," Soul tousled her hair. "Missing you already." That brought a heartbreaking smile to Shelley's face that Soul could barely stand. He had to clear his throat to resist the urge to tumble back into those emotions. "Thanks for the cake, Marie."

"Well, we're family," Marie answered pertly. "And, Maka, please come back any time. Open invitation."

"Oh, thank you," Maka chirped. "And thank you for dinner."

"Stein." Soul shook his hand again, watching that dangerous smile creep back.

"Be careful, Soul," he grinned.

Soul managed a chuckle as he turned to Maka. "Let's go." She offered him just a nod as he moved towards the door, grabbing his shirt off the banister and throwing it back on. He didn't bother to button until he was out on the stoop, feeling the oppressive heat.

"Soul…"

His fingers fumbled uselessly with another button. "Yeah?"

She wasn't even off the stoop, one step above him as he turned, making them almost even. "I'm sorry," she gushed like she'd been holding it in from the minute they entered. "It's your birthday, and that's your family, and I just… I butted in and invited myself and that wasn't fair."

Soul let out a long, slow breath. "I didn't stop you."

It was as if she had been expecting rage back and the cool, almost happiness threw her for a loop. "What?"

"I let you come," he shrugged. "Could have told you to stay at home, so it's not your fault."

"But I…"

"Am nosy as fuck," he laughed. "And maybe… well, coming again will definitely fuel your interest. Marie doesn't pull any punches and she can tell you just about anything about Blake and me."

The color was back in her cheeks and part of him was thankful for it, loving the way it brightened her eyes. "You… want me to come back?"

"Up to you, but Marie approves and…" he sighed. "What you said, Maka, you're right. I don't…" 'Love' caught on his tongue, a word that besides the family in there felt alien when it came to other people. "People caring about me, I see it. I do. I'm not stupid, but letting it sink in? I'll tell myself a million different things. I'm not good enough, it's temporary, I'm dangerous," he choked. "So, no, I'll deny it until it's slapping me in the face and even after. But I know, I know, I have to change that. I'm working on it."

"Is that a promise?" Oh, there was that damn determined smile again and Soul could have spit his heart out of his mouth for her if she asked.

All he could manage was a nod.

As a reward or a punishment, he couldn't convince himself one way or the other, Maka took his hand and kept it for the rest of the way home.