"Who've you been spending so much time with? You've been gone almost all week." Chris asked not so subtly and pouring coffee into three mugs. She'd been coerced out of bed with the promise of breakfast and coffee served to her, all she had to do was sit at the small round table in the kitchen and converse with her roommates. It seemed doable in hindsight.

"And helping them move none the less" Dov added.

"It's not been that much time and helping move is a very loose term to use. I have simply added my company to the moving process, which they ask for." Gail grumbled, adding in quick glares to her fellow officers. The two just smiled off the icy glances and continued with the probing into her personal life.

"It's not someone we know, obviously, so how'd you meet?" Chris brought over two mugs and placed them in front of each of them, then grabbed his own and sat down. He looked at Gail with a too cheery smile, waiting for her answer.

Why did she think this would be worth the service? She could be in bed right now, laying, sleeping, maybe texting Holly if she was available.

Gail cleared her throat, the thought of the brunette causing her vocal cords to tighten, and took a sip of her coffee. "Uh. We met at that sandwich place" And you do know her, she thought.

She was waiting for a good time to bring them together, this little talk is probably going to end with 'you should invite her to the Penny sometime' followed by some comment about her being the Ice Queen, so maybe she should just take that offer. Holly would probably like meeting more people in the city, especially ones she'd be seeing at work, besides she'd been asking more and more questions about Gail's friends.

"Wait," Dov folded the top of the newspaper he'd been reading to look at Gail full on. "Is this the one from the picture?"

"Yes." She said in a way that ended that conversation right there, a warning glare coupled with the stern words. Dov picked up on her unwillingness to talk further and flipped the paper back up, but not before she saw the smirk behind his coffee mug.

"W-what's he talking about? What picture? What's happening?" Chris looked lost between the two, a little hurt he hadn't been told this information.

Gail waved a hand, gesturing that it didn't matter. He wasn't happy or reassured but he let it drop.

"How's it going between you two? Friends, a maybe something more?" he waggled his eyebrows and took a long sip of his coffee. Gail just came to the conclusion that he was the mother in the Frat House, she'd have to let them know.

She swallowed another sip of coffee, -it was supposed to be casual and give her time but it happened more anxiously and probably grew their suspicion- she really didn't want to get into that topic right now. It was early, she'd only had one coffee and no food. Not only that but answering that question would bring on a whole mess of others she didn't want to answer and when they did meet Holly they'd know and be stupidly obvious about it, like the teens they were. So instead Gail stood, coffee in hand, and started for her room with "you've reached your conversation with Gail limit until further notice. I'll be in my room waiting for my breakfast, which I suggest you dweebs start pronto." over called her shoulder.

Once in her room she sighed. It's not like she was trying to hide Holly and her feelings for the brunette, she didn't care if people knew, she just wanted Holly to know first. Or at least know where Holly stood on the subject. Now was just way too soon for such things, it'd only been two weeks since they had run into each other. Gail wanted to give it time, let things build back up and see where it takes them. If that's friendship then so be it. All she knew was she didn't want to loose her Lunchbox again.

Pushing the thoughts from her head she pushed off the door and moved to get dressed. Well as dressed as she would be for the day. As Gail was zipping her sweater up her phone buzzed the special ring that signaled a text from Holly. She was glad she was in the safety of her room, because the goofy grin spread on her face would cause a lot of questions from her nosy roommates.

Lunchbox: Afternoon nerd.

I am not a nerd Holly

Lunchbox:Your comic book collection and extensive knowledge on all things superhero beg to differ.

Doesn't make me a nerd Lunchbox. There are a lot more requirements to be a nerd and you happen to fall in every one, so you are the nerd and I am definitely not

Lunchbox: Argument for another time, I wouldn't want you to have to type so much at such an early hour ;)

You can't hear it but I scoffed and rolled my eyes

Lunchbox: I can imagine. Anyway, I was wondering if I could ask you something?

...maybe

Lunchbox: It's a lot to ask

...

Lunchbox: I'm going to take that as an 'I'm listening'. Sooo my cousin is getting married and I need a plus one.

And you need help finding one?

Lunchbox: I was asking of you would.

Lunchbox: It's in a few weeks, in BC of course. And there will be an open bar.

Gail put her phone on the bed in front of her. Holly was asking her to be her date to a wedding. In BC, where all of her family would be. If it was anyone else this would have been a no at 'it's a lot to ask' and most wouldn't have even gotten that far. But the brunette had always been an exception.

You owe me Lunchbox

Lunchbox: So you'll go with me!?

That's what I said

Lunchbox: Yay!

Stop with the exclamation marks it's hurting my head

Lunchbox: Never!

I'm gonna stop talking

Lunchbox: No you won't!

Gail threw her phone to the end of her bed with a smile. What a nerd. She giggled as she listened to her phone go crazy with Holly's ring tone.

"Was that a giggle I heard?" Dov gasped. Turning to her left she found her roommates standing in her doorway, hands filled with the promised breakfast. Her fellow officers looked to the screaming phone with questioning eyes.

"Ever heard of knocking? It's very dangerous to just walk in, for one I'll kill you, two what if I was doing stuff, and three I'm not kidding about killing you." She glared.

"It must be a cold day in hell, the Ice Queen is giggling" Dov continued as if she hadn't said anything and wasn't disassembling them in her head.

"If you value your balls you will shut your hole, smack the smile off your ugly mug, place the food on the desk and leave." She put as much venom into every careful word as she could and choked back a smirk when he did exactly that. Chris hesitated though, waiting for the lanky man to leave before turning to her. He opened his mouth but quickly shut it in a loss for words.

She sighed. "Just spit it out Diaz."

Chris cleared his throat, "I would love to meet Sandwich dude, maybe after work at the Penny?" He met her gaze briefly and stopped with his hand on the door, "when you're ready of course." he added and shut the door without waiting for an answer.

"Soon Booger. Soon." she mumbled to herself.

Gail quietly padded to the door, opening it with as little noise as possible and checked down the hall. Satisfied that the coast was clear she tip toed across the hall and knocked softly. She could hear shuffling of fabric and then the light patter of bare feet against hardwood. The door creaked open ever so slightly.

"It's me." Gail whispered and pushed into the room.

"Gail? What're you doing here?" the girl who answered the door whispered back. Holly was in her bunk so that meant it was her roommate, Chloe. Gail didn't care much for the redhead, she was too bubbly and happy no matter the situation or time of day.

"I'm bored."

"It's the middle of the night" Gail smirked, was that a whine she detected?

"Then leave cause I'm not going and I'm waking Holly up."

Chloe sighed and went to get her pillow. "Fine, I'm taking your bed."

Gail growled but left it, there was no use in arguing. "Don't wet it." she said over her shoulder. After the click of the door Gail went to Holly's bed, thinking of how she was going to wake her friend and what reason she had for the visit, the one she gave the redhead wouldn't work on Holly.

"I can't sleep either" the brunette rolled over to meet her gaze.

"Did I wake you?" she asked worried.

"I just said I can't sleep" Holly chuckled, " and weren't you about to wake me anyway?"

Gail looked down sheepishly, what was she doing? Stupid question Peck.

Holly shuffled over and patted the open space beside her, flipping the blanket so the blonde could get in.

She hesitated but eventually crawled into the warm bed with a hushed thanks. The two laid in silence for a long time, staring up at all of the names, drawings and passages that covered the bunk bed. Until the brunette shifted, wiping at her eye and a sniffle escaped her lips. Gail immediately sat up and took in the sight of her tear streaked cheeks and red eyes.

"What's wrong Lunchbox?"

"It's nothing."

She snorted. "If it was nothing you wouldn't be crying, so cut the crap Hols and tell me what's up."

Holly took a deep breath and rolled onto her side, meeting the big blue eyes staring back at her. It must have been a full moon given how much light was seeping in through the thin curtains, it gave Gail a shadowy look as her back faced the window. "It's just a little home sickness."

Gail nodded. She wasn't really sure how to help with that, she'd never experienced it, and she hadn't run into it with anyone ever. She actually thought it was kind of a myth. You know, like one of those things that only ever happen in movies and TV shows. But this, Holly's tears and shaky breath, were real. Very very real. So she did all she could think of, use her training.

What was the problem? Holly was sad about home. How to help? Well there was hugging and comforting words, all of which ran quite far out of Gail's skill set. Getting her to talk about it might help, maybe distract her. It was worth a try and frankly all she could come up with.

"Tell me about home, all I know is you have a sister about the same age as my brother."

"Really? You want to hear about my family?" the brunette questioned with a wipe of her runny nose.

Gail nodded.

"Okay," another deep shaky breath. "Um... Well there's my sister Lila, she's 12 and very annoying. She's always doing something artsy or talking about boys, that's all she does. And there's my mom, Kathy, she works at some big company in a really pretty building. I'm not sure what it is she does but she's busy a lot, which is why I spent most of my days with my dad at work before I started school. Well he's technically my step dad. My mom had Lala and I in a different relationship, when they broke up he decided he didn't want to be a father. I used to be kinda sad at that thought but then I think of my dad and I'm happy. I don't know much about my birth father -I was barely a year old when she found dad- but I wouldn't trade Joesph for the world. He teaches me about all of the different kinds of plants and the biology and meanings of them. He reads with me, and finds answers too all of my weird questions. He listens and is really good at helping, and his hugs are the best. We actually just bought a new flower shop for him and when I get back Lala and I get to help paint it."

Gail listened intently, watching carefully to every facial expression. Her plan was working perfectly, the brunette was smiling that brilliant crooked grin as she described her dad, gesturing wildly while telling her about a favourite memory they shared.

Someone started knocking on the door and seconds later that person was yelling at them to 'raise and shine ladies you don't want to miss this beautiful day'. So Gail did her usual growling about how not to wake her unless there was a fire or it was time for food.

"Wait who are you?" the voice was inside the room now. "Where's Chloe?" she sounded panicked.

"Calm down Chirpy, she's in the room across the hall, we switched last night." Gail grumbled from under the blanket. Holly sat up and stretched with a yawn.

"Sorry about Gail, she's doesn't like people and mornings don't help in the least." the brunette rubbed her eyes.

"I can see that. Anyway it's time for morning swim, if you want to go we're heading out in five." Andy said in a quieter tone and slapped the side of the door frame on her way out.

Holly slid out from under the covers and crawled over the grumpy blonde with a chuckle. "I'm sorry Andy woke you, just go back to sleep and I'll wake you for breakfast." she reassured as she took a bathing suit out of a drawer.

"I will never understand why you are getting up at this ungodly hour to go swimming. You're insane you know that right?"

"I have to be to keep up with you" Holly replied over her shoulder. "Sweet dreams Gail" and the door closed with a light click.

It took five nights of Gail sneaking in Holly's room and waking them for Chloe to give up and completely switch rooms with her. Andy stopped with the loud chirpy wakings two mornings in when the blonde almost hit her with a lamp. People were learning and she was actually kind of enjoying her summer for once in her life.

Gail would never admit it but she was looking forward to the wedding, well not the wedding it's self but rather meeting the Stewarts. To watch how they all interact, to see what it was like to have parents who love you and show it like it was the easiest thing in the world. Gail had been curious since the night the brunette told her about them. She'd pictured each face, as best she could from the descriptions Holly provided, about a hundred times. Imagined how she would fit in with them it if they lived in the same city. And now in just a few short weeks she would get a taste of it. Gail froze in her tracks, would she be meeting them as Holly's date or as her friend? Her heart picked up speed and her breathing seized. Now she has to come up with a new plan, waiting to see where things went with Holly would have to be sped up, Gail couldn't meet her parents without knowing where she stood with the brunette.