A/N: This is where plans get me. I sit down saying something like 'alright muse- let's get the date and the family visit done this chapter'. My muse cackles evully and then proceeds to make me write over eleven pages. I should have broken it up- but I felt if I stepped out of Alex's regular work another chapter it would ruin my flow. I need my flow. Thanks for all the reviews- I'm glad you guys finally picked up that Joe was Joe - I had mentioned his name before but no one caught it.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Never will be. I'd cry about it- but I'm having to much fun playing.

I sat on the bench in the cold sunlight- waiting. I had arrived home to a message from Bobby- asking me to call him, which of course, after several deep breaths and a few rather girl like squeals I'd never tell anyone about, I had. He had suggested meeting here, in the park. I had no idea what we were doing- and he refused to say, but had at least told me to dress casual. So I had- in my faded jeans and a dark blue long sleeved light sweater- and my brown cord coat, I sat in the weak sunshine and watched kids at a nearby playground run around screaming at each other. The smile that couldn't seem to leave my face widened at the sight of them. It all reminded me of my brothers and sister growing up. We had been a handful to say the least.

"Hey." He sat beside me on the weathered bench and I smiled brightly at him.

"Hi. So are you gonna tell me what we're doing, or are you planning on blindfolding me too?" His arm had stretched out along the back of the bench and I could feel the warmth from it behind me. He looked out across the park for a moment, and he seemed oddly content. "You are going to blindfold me, aren't you?" His chuckle escaped, and finally he turned to face me.

"No blindfolds today, I promise." He held his hands up in a surrendering gesture and I waited patiently. Even this early I've learned that teasing Bobby is difficult- you needed to let him wander to his point on his own. "You know this is my bench?"

"Well, the guy that sleeps on it at nights may disagree." I quipped and he smiled, shaking his head.

"It's where I come to think."

"You come to think by a playground filled with screaming children?" I shifted slightly closer as I pulled my coat closer to me, wishing I had brought a scarf today.

"I like the kids- they're happy." He responded simply, turning his eyes to mine. I felt something tug inside me at the look in his eyes, but he smiled in the next moment and whatever was there disappeared. "So- I didn't want to take you to any of the usual places-"

"I suppose I'll take that as a compliment- otherwise we're off to a bad start." My voice was filled with suppressed laughter and he glanced at me trying to suppress his own smile.

"Anyway-" He spoke over me, his rich voice stressing the word. "I didn't want to do the usual dinner, dancing, movie, clubbing crap. I think you're different than that." I nodded as he spoke – privately agreeing, I wasn't much of a club girl anymore anyway and movies were never a good first date. You couldn't talk properly.

"Good plan – you're right. So where are we going?" I bounced a little as I asked- I was never good with surprises and I used to drive my parents nuts around Christmas. My brothers and I must have had a million plans to search and find the presents before Christmas day. He pointed behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder.

"66th Street?" His smile widened at my dubious question.

"Some cop you are- what's over there?" He laughed and I elbowed him in the ribs in retribution.

"Uh- more of the Park? Not many shops- street vendors? The zoo? What?" I paused at the way his eyes lit up, and backtracked my thoughts. "Wait- the zoo? You're taking me to the zoo?" His expression faltered and I instantly felt awful for saying it that way. Stupid Alex.

"Well- I thought-"

"No, it's fantastic! I haven't been there since I was a kid, and definitely not since the big renovation. I love the zoo- especially the peanuts. I used to feed them to the animals, even though you're not supposed to." I had jumped up by this point, and was pulling on his arm to get him to stand to, which he did slowly.

"You broke the law? I am shocked Alex." I laughed and put my arm through his while walking toward the street.

"Yeah well- prepare to get a lot of them today. I was a bad kid."

"And you're on the straight and narrow now?" He teased gently and I laughed.

"Maybe not so narrow- but definitely straight." As we walked, he looked down at me and smiled. He was even making an effort to shorten his strides – I could tell in the way he would mis step every few feet.

"So, what's on your agenda for your three whole days off?" I rolled my eyes and grinned.

"Well- today is you- tomorrow is my parents – I promised I'd spend the night – which is good because I desperately need laundry done, and Mom's and Dad's is so much freer than the local laundry mat. And Monday- well I dunno. Probably gonna get some Christmas shopping done, Lord help me. I have to start now though- otherwise I'll hit the after Thanksgiving rush- you know, mall's crowded, makes me want to pull out my gun type deal?" I laughed nervously because I seemed to be talking a lot, but he was a good listener- and it was easy to do. He pulled me to a stop by a coffee vendor, and rose a brow. I smiled and nodded in response, and he ordered two coffees before heading towards the entrance.

We by passed the children's section on our way in- with me stating that while kids were cute – kids in a petting zoo would try anyone's patience. So we strolled past the clock and I dragged him along toward my favorite feature. I leaned against the railing with my coffee as he studied the map the admissions lady had handed him. "I'm glad they kept the Sea Lion pool the center. It was my favorite when I was a kid." He leaned next to me, and I watched the sea lions lounging about on the large rocks in the center of the water.

"Well- everything's separated by climate now. Arctic, Tropical and Temperate. Which one first?" I glanced over and laughed.

"Memorized the map already, did we?" I took a sip of coffee and watched him from beneath my lashes.

"Photographic memory- sue me. So do you pick, or shall I?" I waved in surrender and he smiled widely. "I want to see the penguins. I've never seen one."

"Penguins? Haven't you even been to the Zoo? Or are you not a native New Yorker?" I asked in a curious tone, and he smiled.

"Yeah – I was raised here, but I just never went as a kid. It was just me and my Mom- and we didn't really have the time. Once I joined the Army- it seemed a bit ridiculous to go to a Zoo."

"Oh I see- so I'm just a convenient excuse to live out your life long dream of seeing the penguins." I spoke dryly and he laughed.

"Yup. It's all about flightless birds for me, so let's go live my dream huh?" Just then a sea lion popped up by the railing and I laughed out loud as he – or she, I wasn't really sure – raised himself on the edge, stretching towards us.

"Aww look- you hurt Tony's feelings with all the flightless bird talk." I laughed, leaning over the railing.

"Tony?"

"Sure- he looks like a Tony don't you think?"

"You know they have real names-"

"Yeah and I also know the plaque is on the other side and you couldn't tell which was which, so he's Tony." He shook his head with a smile, watching as I stretched a hand out even though we both knew Tony was too far away to touch. "He's cute. And insulted you like birds better."

"I'm sorry Tony." Bobby spoke to the sea lion seriously and I laughed, hopping down from the railing. Dropping my now empty coffee into the trash, I turned with a smile and let him lead me towards the appropriate area. On the way, his hand found mine and they laced together. I smiled – amazed at how something so small could make me aware of every single breath I took. I felt like a kid again, when holding hands was a huge thing and made your heart beat faster. On our walk, I tried to subtly pull information from him – but he was cagey.

"So how old are you?" I asked in my usual blunt manner. If I wanted to know something I usually just asked and his laugh was deep and rich.

"If it was me asking you-"

"I'd say 26. In July. I'm not old enough to have hang ups about my age."

"Are you saying I am?"

I shrugged and grinned up at him. "Hey- you're the one avoiding the question."

"33. And my birthday is in June. Happy?" He steered us along the path, his hand still warm in mine, heating me up far more than the coffee ever could.

"Uh oh. June what?"

"30th- why?" He sounded mildly curious and I laughed.

"Mine's July 5th – that makes us both Cancers which according to my mother- who reads her horoscope every freaking day- it's not a good thing. Same signs don't usually get along." I smiled as I spoke, already knowing he needed the visual confirmation that I was teasing again.

"Well- astrology is crap anyway- everyone knows that. I suppose you could consider it symbolic or a form of ancient art- but everyone knows it's not science."

"Yeah well- don't say that to my Mom if you ever meet her. She'd argue with you til the cows came home." We had entered the Arctic area at this point, only pausing briefly to look at the puffins, before moving toward the penguins. We stopped at the railing again, finding a spot despite the hordes of families that roamed around us.

"Emperor penguins. Birds that can swim- do you know how crazy that is?" He looked at me as he spoke and I watched the birds inside stand around, waddling back and forth.

"I'm sure you know why they swim and don't fly- but answer me this? How come they walk like that?"

"Have you seen their legs?" He asked incredulously. "They don't have any due to the fatty pouch. They use it to incubate eggs and chicks later. And they swim thanks to evolution- had to adapt to the Arctic." I watched the birds as he spoke, they all stood together in a large group.

"Why do they stand together like that?" He glanced over and watched for a moment before looking back to her.

"It's behavioral science. In the Arctic they stand together to conserve heat- they stay warmer in groups. Eventually what started as common sense just gets ingrained into the species, and they just do it despite it not being that cold here." I nodded as he spoke, I found that I liked listening to him talk- about anything really I just liked the sound of his voice.

"And they're monogamous, right?"

"Actually wrong. They're serially monogamous. Each year they select a mate- and are loyal to that mate but the next year they usually pick a different mate." He glanced down at my dry laugh, arching a brow in question.

"I know a lot of guys that are 'serially monogamous'." He grinned at my dry humor and I leaned closer to him, to hear him better over the crowd. "Ah well- at least they're shiny. I didn't expect them to be so shiny."

"It's the oil that waterproofs them. Look." He pointed to the left slightly, and I looked over, seeing that he was pointing out a baby penguin peeking out from beneath their mother.

"Aww- that's cute. And I totally just sounded like your typical airhead girl there." I laughed slightly and he laughed with me, his hand dropping to rest on the back of my neck and tracing lines beneath my hair. I shivered in a way that had nothing to do with the cold air circulating the area, and leaned closer to him.

"It is cute. Babies are usually born in June or July so he's only four months old at best?" I leaned back fully against him as his hand made it's way to the side of my neck, and my whole body seemed to hum underneath his hand. "Am I bothering you- with the lecturing I mean?" He had leaned down and his voice was a whisper by my ear. I shook my head in a negative gesture.

"I don't mind- I like to listen to you." He nodded and I felt his chin brush against my ear, the rough beard there tickling the delicate skin. After a moment, he took my hand again, and we headed to the next area of the zoo.

Several hours later, we were outside his building, and I was exhausted. As we rode in the elevator and I teased him about being able to afford an elevator, I leaned against the back panel. When the doors opened, and he lead me down the hall to his apartment, I thought about various ways to destroy the shoes I had on. I had worn heels, black boots – because clearly I needed the height advantage around him. I would clearly need to up my tolerance for pain since I would never be able to wear flats around him. Once he opened the door though, the thoughts flew out of my head as we walked in. His apartment was big- huge to me, since it had more than one room. It was very plain though, white walls, black leather furniture, glass tables. The only thing that was totally Bobby about the place was the shelves and shelves of books.

"Wow- this is great Bobby." I spoke as I sat down on his sofa and proceeded to take my boots off immediately. He noticed this, and pulled my feet onto his lap as he sat down.

"You should have worn-"

"Don't say it." I held up a hand to stop him, but my hand dropped and a slight moan escaped me as his hands began rubbing along the arch of my foot. "Nevermind- say whatever the hell you want." He grinned, pressing his thumb along the curve of my foot. As he did so, his eyes inspected my feet.

"Your toes are crooked." he stated, running his hands along the tops of my feet now. "You danced?"

I nodded, my eyes following his hands. "Mom thought ballet was a requirement. Both my sister and I were in it for years. My sister quit when she was eight or nine I think? I kept with it until I left high school. Once I joined the Academy though – there wasn't much point in continuing. I didn't have time- and my feet were horrible looking. It just wasn't worth it."

"Makes sense- I mean you move gracefully- especially for someone your size." His eyes met mine and he tucked my feet next to him.

"And do you have any hidden talents I should know about, Bobby?" I teased gently, looking around me as I spoke. "Besides being a librarian in another life, I mean."

"I like to read. I have a hard time sleeping sometimes- books calm me. And other than that- no. No hidden talents here."

"I somehow seriously doubt that." I answered dryly. He shrugged slightly, getting up and walking towards what I assumed was his kitchen. I stood too- but took a moment to examine the titles on his shelf first. There was everything from medical texts to classic fiction. Several books were in different languages, and I smiled as I followed him into his kitchen, which was large enough to have a table inside it- no small feat in a New York apartment. "Liar." I sat at one of the chairs and he turned from the stove where he was doing something with a pan. "I already know you must speak different languages- I saw your books." He shrugged with a smile and turned back to what he was doing.

"I .. picked up a few things in the Army. I was stationed in Germany for quite a while. I pick things up quickly, I guess." His tone was modest and slightly embarrassed and I snorted under my breath.

"You guess, huh? So how many languages do you speak, exactly?" He placed a glass of water in front of me, and I ran my fingers along the rim, watching as he walked back to the counter, cutting vegetables.

"A- a few." His tone was clearly not comfortable, so I dropped the subject for the moment, not wanting to upset him. I had been having a fantastic time all day- surprisingly enough and I didn't want to press it now.

"All right- you keep your secrets Bobby. When did you learn to cook?" I watched as he prepared the food, amazed at how easy he made it look. When I tried to do anything like cooking, it usually turned out very badly.

"After the Army- I had to live on my own, and in case you haven't noticed, I'm a big guy. I eat a lot. So I got some books, and worked through trial and error." I laughed lightly at his statement and watched him closely.

"Oh I've noticed." I spoke dryly before taking a sip of water. He turned and looked at me with a smile and I winked which caused him to laugh. "I can't believe you taught yourself though. You're beginning to make me feel inadequate over here." He shook his head, tossing something in a pan, and crossing over to me, dragging the other chair out beside mine. Sitting, he took my hands in his and smiled.

"Don't- you're fine just the way you are. I like your sense of humor, and the way you talk a lot."

"Oh thanks so much." I laughed as I spoke, and he leaned forward, capturing my mouth with his own. All thought left me as I wrapped my arms around his neck, and let the heat that had been teasing me all day take over my body. I pressed myself against him, feeling his heartbeat echo mine as I opened my mouth under his. His arms slid up from my waist to bury themselves in my hair, and I moaned slightly at the feel of them. One of my hands had found it's way into his hair, brushing against the dark silkiness of it. When his mouth left mine, I felt a moment of loss, but he didn't remove his hands, and kept me pressed against him, adjusting me so that I was actually sitting more on him than my chair.

"Your welcome." he spoke with a small smile. "I like you, Alex." His eyes met mine and I felt my heart skip slightly at the expression in them. His hands ran through my hair lightly, pulling it behind me and down. His mouth found my neck and I was shocked I could still be in a solid form at the feeling his lips against the skin there elicited. I gasped , a strangled half breath that seemed to catch in my throat, and I squirmed in his lap slightly. His hands released my hair, coming down to grip my hips roughly, stopping their progress and his breathing was heavy. "Alex.."

"Sorry." I whispered, not really sorry at all as I felt him pressing into me.

"Sure you are." This time his voice was the dry one, and I ran a hand along the side of his face where it leaned into my neck, his breath hot against my already heated skin. "Okay-" he breathed out regretfully, his hands lingering at my waist, tracing circular patterns there. "Dinner will burn if I don't get up right now. " I smiled and shifted so that he could move, getting up stiffly and walking over to the counter with his back to me, which made me laugh out loud, earning a glare from him. Part of me was grateful he was able to stop- I wanted to take this slow- and do it right for once. It was important to me this time. Of course the other part of me longed to say screw dinner- literally. I sighed softly, watching him move again and taking a large drink of my water. It was going to be a difficult evening.

The sunlight was bright as I trudged my way out of the train station with my three bags of laundry. I bit back a curse for forgetting my sun glasses, even in early November, the sun was blinding at times. "Lexi!" I heard my father's voice call, and I turned to the sound. He was walking toward me, and I dropped my bags, reaching up and giving him a brief hug.

"Hey Daddy. How are you?" He leaned down, picking up two of the three bags and shaking his head. I picked up the remaining one and followed him to our car.

"Fine. And apparently you still don't do laundry- lucky you have ten million clothes then, eh?" His brogue made the teasing tone more apparent, and I rolled my eyes.

"It's the drawback of getting me overnight. You get my clothes too. Oh well." I grinned and threw the bag in the trunk as he snorted slightly. Once we were in the car, I turned to him. "So what's the plan for the day?" It was Sunday morning, and I had to get up at five to catch an early train, but I knew my Mom would kill me if I came on Sunday and wasn't there for church.

"Well, service is at ten of course- and then dinner. Your mother is making ham today. Sean and Mindy and Tommy will be by. Caleb too- but Seamus is working, much to your mother's dismay. And of course, Liz is at home, where she ought to be. She's been a bit moody lately though- see if you can talk to her, eh?" I nodded in response, watching suburbia roll by outside my window. We had always lived in the city when I was a kid- my Dad had been a beat cop until he was injured. He managed to get a reassignment to a suburb station though- and my Mom was finally able to have her dream – a house with a fence and more than a strip of a yard.

When we pulled in, my Mom ran out, hugging me fiercely as I sighed. "Mom- you saw me three weeks ago. It hasn't been three years." I spoke dryly as I dropped my things in the laundry room off the kitchen and she followed me, making scolding noises.

"Alexandra Eames, your mother is allowed to hug you whenever she wants." I nodded tiredly, glancing around the large kitchen with a smile. "Now go get changed for church- I hope you brought something decent- and wake your sister while you're at it. I swear she would sleep her life away if we allowed her to."

"She's a teenager Mom," I smiled as I crossed the tiled floor quickly. "It's what they do. I'll get her." I exited the kitchen, smiling at my Dad who was currently seated in his arm chair, doing the Sunday crossword. Taking the stairs two at a time, I burst into the room my sister and I had shared for years without knocking. "Good morning sunshine!" I spoke loudly, pulling the shade up and letting sunlight stream into the room, which earned me a moan and a grunt from Liz's bed.

"What was that?" I spoke loudly again, jumping onto the bed next to her with a grin. "I didn't quite catch that."

"I hate you." Liz spoke more clearly this time and I laughed.

"Aww- Liz. I love you too. Come on. Up. Church time." I sing songed and Liz rolled her eyes at me in typical Eames fashion. I tugged the covers down, before she could throw them over her head. "Come on, aren't you happy to see your big sister?" She smiled reluctantly, still glaring at me.

"Fine. Fine, I'm up. Get off me so I can get dressed."

"Well- you're so chipper, I think I'll bring you up some coffee. See how much I love you?" Liz shoved me off the bed and I hit the floor with muffled laughter. She exited the bed herself, turning and sticking her tongue out at me before she left the room, a favor I returned. "Brat!" I hollered at the door as it shut. I lay on the floor for a moment before heaving a sigh and rolling over. Time to get up.

Several hours later I was standing at the stove, arguing with my mother. Nothing unusual about that, but the topic we were arguing over was. "Mom- I just said maybe it's time for me to learn! That doesn't mean I'm keeping anything from you, or that I'm never coming home again. In fact- if you look at it logically it would mean I would be home more- to learn."

"Lexi you hate cooking. You hate the thought of cooking, and I'm pretty sure you could burn water if you tried-"

"She already did, remember?" Sean butted in from his position at the table, coloring with his son in his lap.

"Oh yeah-" Caleb snorted from across the table where he was grinning. "When she burnt the old aluminum kettle to the stove- Lord it smelled so bad-"

"Shut up, both of you." I snapped. I turned back to my Mom with a sigh. "Which is why I should learn. It was just a thought- I may want to actually feed myself one day. Hell one day- I may be responsible for feeding others-"

"That's a scary thought." Caleb muttered, earning a glare from both me and Mom.

"I mean it doesn't look that hard and-"

"Who is he?" My mother had crossed her arms, and was now glaring at me with narrowed green eyes. For someone so tiny- my Mom could be mighty intimidating- I had seen my brothers quake in fear in front of her more times than I could count.

"Who is who?" I asked, echoed closely by Sean who had now turned towards us, not paying attention to Tommy who was coloring off the page. Looking down, he jumped up, prying the crayons from his son's hand gently and handing Tommy over to Caleb who laughed.

"The boy, Lexi. Who is the boy?" My mother waved her wooden spoon at me as she spoke, and I cursed inwardly.

"What boy? There is no boy." My mother didn't say anything, just glared her glare at me, and I frowned back. "No boy Mom. Seriously." Which was true- technically. Bobby hardly counted as a boy.

"You're lying Alexandra." The spoon jabbed in my direction and she glared more, stirring the pineapple glaze in front of her. "But that's fine- if you don't want to tell me, I understand. But if the boy is still around at Christmas, I expect to see him, am I clear?" I sighed, glancing over at Caleb who was miming Mom's expression from behind her. I glared at him, which only caused his silent laughter to increase.

"Fine Mom." I answered tiredly, causing her to smile. She shooed me out of the kitchen, along with Caleb and we headed to the large backyard, grabbing our coats off of the hooks by the side door. Caleb swiftly wrestled Tommy into his, and set him loose once we reached outside. Slinging an arm over my shoulders, he grinned.

"Come on sis, could be worse. She could have said Thanksgiving." He laughed at my expression, and I muttered obscenities at him while he laughed harder. "Is that any way to talk to your favorite brother?"

"Who said you were my favorite?" I crossed my arms, keeping one eye on Tommy as he ran across the grass to the large swing set my parents had put in for him. The yard was fenced , so I knew he wouldn't go far.

"Timeline. I was closest to you in age- so I was forced to tolerate you." I smacked his arm roughly.

"Listen buddy- I am older than you and don't forget it. I had to put up with you, not the other way around." He shrugged, walking backwards towards the swings.

"Whatever- I'm going to go play now." I shook my head as he turned and ran towards the swings, scooping Tommy up and whirling him in the air as he shrieked with laughter. I turned towards the deck, spotting Liz sitting in the sun, and joined her.

"I hate boys."

"No you don't." She replied with a smile. "They're all idiots, but they're our idiots so we love them. So-" She turned to me with a gleam in her eye. "Who's the guy?"

"What?"

"Hey- the kitchen window was open and I happened to be over there. You can lie to Mom- you can keep it from the guys- but me? No way in hell. So don't make me ask again. Who's the guy?" Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, and I glared at her. She was like a larger image of me, same blonde hair, same crooked smile- but she had gotten our mother's green eyes instead of Dad's brown. And she had gotten Dad's height, which made her about ten times prettier than me.

"Just a guy," I muttered and she laughed out loud.

"Oh please. I've seen you after dates Lex- and I know you. You have been disgustingly happy today- it almost makes me want to avoid you. So spill. I won't tell- you know that."

"Fine." I huffed, crossing my arms across my chest and staring across the yard. "He's a cop- with Narcotics-"

"Oh, does Sean know him?" She asked, sitting up and glancing across the plastic table at me.

"I don't know- probably." I frowned, wondering if that would be an issue come Christmas- I'd have to ask Sean first.

"So what's his name? What's he like? How long have you been seeing him?" Liz fired the questions at me quickly in rapid succession.

"Jesus- are you sure you don't want to be a lawyer Liz?" I joked lightly and she glared.

"Yes I am not going into Law enforcement than you very much. I want to teach kids- you know I love them, now stop avoiding the question." She leveled her own glare at me and I rolled my eyes, throwing my hands up and smiling.

"Fine! His name is Bobby Goren, and he's sweet. Not like the guys I usually date-"

"Well that's great. Already it means he's not a huge ass." She spoke in a flippant tone and I glared. "What? You date losers Lex- admit it. It's the first step."

"I hate you." I spoke swiftly and she nodded grinning. "Whatever- anyway he's not an ass. He's polite and smart and kind and really funny. And great. And I've only been on one date with him-"

"No wonder you look so nauseatingly happy. Was it last night?" I nodded and she glanced out across the yard. "What did you do?"

"We went to the zoo, and he made me dinner." Liz's laugh earned a scowl from me.

"The zoo? Seriously? Well- it's better than a movie I guess. What's he look like?" She was leaning across the table now and I smiled at her affectionately.

"Tall- really tall. Six three or four maybe. Dark hair, dark eyes. He's not really good looking- in that pretty way you know- but he's got nice eyes, and a great smile." Liz smiled next to me and nodded.

"Lord- sounds nice. Good- I can be the first to meet him when I stay with you next weekend." I turned in surprise and she avoided my eyes.

"What? Liz- first off I can't guarantee I have next weekend off- but isn't that Homecoming for you? You're Queen- or you will be, and David's taking you.."

"David's not taking me anywhere." She bit out bitterly. I got up, moving into the chair next to hers, and taking her hands in mine. "He broke up with me- last week. I wasn't ready to sleep with him and I guess he wasn't willing to wait. He's taking that slut Jenny Fitzgerald to the dance. And I don't really feel like being there. So instead, I'm going to come visit my favorite sister, who will loose sleep and shop with me, and when I get back- I'll be over it."

"Are you ok?" I asked softly and she laughed.

"Eames don't cry Lex- we get even. I'll be fine."

"He was a jerk anyway." I reassured her, and she nodded.

"Totally. Not worth my time." She repeated after me as if reading from script. I hugged her fiercely, pulling back and smiling.

"You're a smart girl Liz. Smarter than I was anyway- and you'll find someone better. And you're right- even if I am working next weekend, it'll be nights. So we can spend the days together at the very least."

"Yeah- and I can teach you to cook- if you want. Wait. You do have a fire extinguisher, right?" I laughed, nodding and she laughed with me. The moment was only broken by Mom calling us all into the house. We walked in together, my arm wrapped around her, and planning the visit.