AN: Hey, guys! This isn't exactly new. I wrote a few chapters in advance for a "rainy day." I've been working on an original novel on my tablet while I'm in class. My sociology class demands three assignments from me every week. I decided to post this right now, though, so that you guys don't have to wait too long for more material. I feel really bad about making you all wait. Enjoy the chapter!

Doug woke up to the sound of tapping on glass. He sat up on the couch and looked toward the glass door. There was an older woman at the door with a little girl clinging to her arm. The older woman's hair was long and gray, but she seemed to be living in a different decade. She wore a black t-shirt advertising a band called Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The little girl had long, golden curls and a shy smile.

Valentine got up from her chair and unlocked the glass door to let in her guests. She immediately picked up the little girl and kissed her forehead.

"My Marie!" she said excitedly. "Did you have fun at Grandma's?"

"Uh huh," Marie said shyly, peeking over her mother's shoulder at Doug.

"So who's this?" the older woman asked, looking at Doug, too. "Your boyfriend?"

"What? N-No!" Valentine said. "He's a friend. He used to work at Aperture."

"Oh?"

"Uh, Mom, this is Doug Rattmann," Valentine introduced. "Doug, this is my mother Jenny."

"Hello, Mrs. McKale," Doug said quietly.

"Hello, Doug," Jenny said. "It's not McKale, by the way. I'm divorced. Are you the only one who made it out of Aperture? What happened there?"

"It's a long story, Mom," Valentine said. "Now isn't a good time for a story."

"Okay, fine," Jenny said.

Toby suddenly trotted in from the kitchen and jumped up to be pet by Jenny.

"Toby!" she said, scratching the little dog behind the ears. "How's my little boy doing? Are you happy here? Your face is so dirty!"

"He's doing alright," Valentine assured. "He just likes eating dirt."

"Well, don't let him do that," Jenny said. "So have you given any thought into finding a job around town?"

"Mom, the town is barley functioning as a community," Valentine said, exhaustion edging into her voice. "I need to make breakfast now."

"Did you at least clean the house during the weekend?" Jenny asked. "It looks a little messy in here." Her gaze fell on the dirty dishes from the previous night.

"Yes, I cleaned. I just have a few dirty dishes. That doesn't mean I didn't clean."

"Whatever. I'm not the boss of you anymore. I have to go. Dave is moving in with me soon and he wants me to help him load his stuff into a truck."

"Sounds like a lot of fun," Valentine said sarcastically. "I'll see you later."

"Oh, tell Spencer he should stop by Dave's place to help whenever he gets home."

"I'll tell him," Valentine said. "Have fun."

"I sure will," Jenny said, matching her daughter's earlier sarcasm. She left and Valentine seemed to sigh with relief.

"My mom never wanted me to move out," Valentine said, turning to face Doug. "She's still a little….clingy."

"I can tell," Doug said, smiling a little.

Valentine put her daughter down and kneeled next to her. "Marie, do you wanna say hi to Doug?" she asked.

"Hi, Doug," Marie said quietly.

"Uh, hi," Doug said. He never really knew how to speak to a child. He wasn't quite sure what words they had learned yet or what he could say to them.

"I'm going to make breakfast," Valentine said, standing up. "Marie, did Grandma feed you this morning?"

"Yes," Marie said, grabbing her mother's hand.

"Do you want to sit on the couch with a book while I make myself breakfast?"

Marie nodded. "I wanna read The Haunted Mask," she said.

"You can go get it from your room," Valentine said. "I'll be in the kitchen."

Marie hurried to her room to grab her book.

"I think I'll take a bath," Doug said. "If that's okay."


Doug's thoughts were swirling in his head as he soaked in the bathtub. He couldn't stop thinking about the previous night. Valentine had been so insistent on him staying. Was she really so worried for his safety? Or was she just being paranoid?

"She said that she liked my company," he said. "She likes being around me."

"Because she's afraid to be alone," the Cup said, sitting on the sink counter. "She feels secure with you around."

"She likes talking to me, though," Doug said. "She's always trying to make conversation with me."

"You like her, don't you?" the Cup asked. "Don't deny it."

"I will deny it," Doug said. "I just like having a friend."

"Oh, let's cut the crap, Doug. There's obvious chemistry between you two. I think you should embrace it. It's kind of cute. I've never seen you in love before."

"Slow down there," Doug said, looking at the Cup. "I'm not in love. I never said that. She's just a very nice young woman who's a bit, uh…..odd."

"If you're not in love then why do you have butterflies in your stomach?" the Cup asked.

Doug tried to deny the fluttery sensation in his stomach. "She's just an attractive woman. It isn't so strange that I might have some inkling of a….physical attraction for her."

"So you admit that you are attracted to her."

Doug sunk lower in the tub so that the water's surface was just below his nose. He didn't want to admit anything to the Cup. The Cup obviously already knew what he was thinking but he didn't want to say it out loud.

"Doug, it's fine to admit it," the Cup said. "She's cute and interesting. You haven't had a crush on someone in years so it's perfectly understandable for you to like her."

"Hm," Doug said.

"Okay, fine. You don't have to say anything that I already know. But you do realize that I'm going to tease you about it now, right?"