Penelope had just pulled out her tablet when Erin appeared in front of her, hands clasped tightly as she looked at the floor. Everything about her posture screamed that she was hesitant, uncomfortable, and Penelope tried to keep an open, neutral, expression in her face as she set her tablet in her lap and smiled at Erin. "What can I do for you?"

"I know that you don't run your group any longer, not since that incident with your friend, but I want to talk about what happened to me in an informal setting, and well, I was wondering if you and Alex would just sit and let me talk?"

"I would be glad to do that, Erin. And to keep the group feeling, perhaps I could call a few of my former groupmates over here? That way you'd feel like you weren't so exposed to me and Alexandra."

The smile that lit up Erin's face told her that she had made the right choice, and the woman nodded as she let out a deep, relieved, sigh as her body lost its tense look. Taking a seat next to Penelope, Erin pulled out her phone and began to scroll through her feed, allowing Penelope to look at it, if she chose. That level of trust caught at her heart, and she quickly smiled before knocking her shoulder against Erin's as she opened up her messaging app and began a new chat with Becca and Jill, inviting them over to Alex's house in two hours, saying that they were going to revive the group, on a smaller scale.

"How did you get home and settled before I did?" Alex asked as she brought in a coffee tray for them.

"I left before you, and I've managed to work out a few shortcuts using a new app that's in beta testing. And we have something to run by you," she said as she received a message back from Becca, confirming that she would be there. "Erin wants to talk about things in an informal group setting, and since I used to have my own group, she asked if I would lead it. I think that we all could benefit from some soul catharsis, so I've invited two of my more trusted members of the group to join us tonight for a few hours, and we'll chat. I hope that you and James don't mind more people in your home. It would only be once a week?"

"That will be fine, and I agree. It would be nice to talk some things out."

Penelope let out a long, low, breath as she smiled at the woman. "I'm so glad that you agreed to this. I don't know where else we could hold a meeting comfortably, since I have the feeling that none of us would feel comfortable talking in a coffee shop, and at four or five members, there wouldn't be enough revenue to hold it in a publicly rented room."

Alex nodded as she picked up her mug and took a sip. "And when are the others expected?"

"I thought that seven would be a good time, at least that's what I told Becca and Jill."

"We should probably eat at six, then, which doesn't give me much time to cook…"

"I can help, Lexie." Erin glanced at Penelope before turning her face up to look at Alex. "We haven't spent too much time alone, and since James isn't home yet, it would give us some time to bond."

Penelope nodded in response, knowing that it would also keep a small buffer zone between her and Alex, since James was still acting wary around her, and she truly didn't want him to feel unwelcome in his own home. As Erin and Alex left the living room, Erin snagging her coffee mug on the way out, Penelope received confirmation from Jill that she would also be there, and she smiled as she sent them Alex's address before grabbing her mug and taking a long drink.

She had just lost herself in a good game when she felt the garage door close, signaling that James was home. Sucking in a shallow breath, she tried to keep her concentration when she heard his feet move through the house, not pausing in the kitchen before he made his way to the living room to join her. Penelope didn't know what to say to him, since things were still strained between them, and he said nothing as he took a seat in his chair, picking up a medical journal and starting to read from where he had left off the previous day.

"Anything important happening?" he asked, his voice controlled and even.

"Well, Erin wants to talk about what she went through, so we're going to have an impromptu meeting, like the ones I used to run a few years ago. We'll probably sit in the kitchen, so that you can have the living room. And it will only before for an hour or two." She darted her eyes over towards him, gauging his reaction. His hands tightened on the journal, and she braced herself for a negative reaction.

"That is probably a very good idea. Did her therapist suggest it?"

"I'm assuming yes, because she seemed rather hesitant to ask me. I would do anything to help her, though."

"So would Alex. I've missed my wife."

Those words were like a dagger to Penelope's heart, and she struggled to find something to say to him. Thankfully, Erin came into the living room, wiping her hands on a towel as she looked between the two of them. "Supper is on the table, if you want to come and eat."

Penelope nodded as she jumped to her feet, tucking her tablet under her arm as she followed after Erin, not checking to see if James was following them or not. Erin directed her to sit next to her, with James on right, Alex across from her. This was an awkward position, since it meant that she had to very carefully focus her thoughts on anything that was not at all romantic. Erin slipped her hand across the table, covering Penelope's and squeezing it a little, as if she knew the inner turmoil. "What did you make for us?"

"Broccoli Chicken Divan. It was easy to put together, since all the ingredients were in the fridge already, and Alex put some garlic bread in with it as well."

Penelope's stomach growled hungrily, and Erin chuckled as she patted her hand and then picked up her plate, portioning out some of the casserole before handing the serving spoon to Penelope, allowing her to get her own out. As the others got their food, Penelope began to pick at the casserole, finding it delicious, but still feeling discombobulated by the conversation she had had with James. And then, they were finishing their meal, and James loaded the plates into the washer before leaving them alone in the kitchen.

"Well, that was awkward. Lexie, you're going to have to talk to him soon, or else something it going to break between us." Penelope gasped at the frank words that dropped from Erin's lips, even though she knew that she was right.

"I just haven't found the right time yet," Alex replied as she dumped out the old coffee, starting a new pot brewing. "Penny, would you lay the brownies out on a plate? And are we meeting in the living room or…?"

"We'll just stay in here. It will lend a more intimate air to things. Though we will need one more chair." Alex nodded as she left the room, and Penelope allowed her body to sag as she looked at Erin, feeling so helpless in that moment, and not knowing when things would get better.