They spent most of their time together. Ben dragged her, just about literally, out to concerts, museums and cafes. Arguments that she was just a homebody were generally accepted but she wasn't stupid. She knew she had to go out and not make a big deal about it. People went out everyday and lived. But how did you go out when you didn't know if there was someone 'out there' looking for you? Those were the excursions where she became hyper aware of her surroundings. He chided her for not paying attention to the play, listening to the music, walking too fast, just trying to get home, She argued that she loved being home with him, lazy languid nights in bed with him, dinners in, renting movies. He liked it too but not for the same reasons. He wasn't scared of being recognized, of being targeted.

Sorry, she'd reply and try not to get lost in the memorization of people's faces, of looking for quick movements, looking for eyes locking on her even for a second.

On one particular evening she was happy to be in his apartment, reading by the fire. Various newspapers from the US and Europe lay scattered around her. Ben was across the room on the computer, working.

Looking up he asked. "Have I ever emailed you?"

She was half a world away reading about Washington DC based political shake-ups. Some names she'd recognized and she was always curious about the ongoing Blackbriar fallout. Landy was applauded for her work and Vosen was 'in custody' while hearings went on but there was nothing definitive about anyone's fate. She was sure it wouldn't be advertised in any sort of media anyway but she continued to look for new information. She heard his voice and looked up. "Huh?" Her eyes looked for his but he was focused on the screen in front of him.

"Email. Internet." He spoke as he typed. "Have I ever emailed you? Do you have an email account?"

"Sure," she lied too easily. "I mean, no, you don't email me. I have an account but it mostly just collects spam." She shrugged.

"It's just—it would be such an easy way for your family to get in touch with you."

"Well," her mouth formed a straight line. "I guess that would be up to them, wouldn't it?"

He let it go, knowing she didn't like to talk about her family, her past. He let it go but there was tension in the air. Tension over a family that didn't exist, that couldn't get in touch with her because realistically they couldn't.

She lay in bed with him, wearing only his shirt, lying in his arms. They were happily quiet and, she thought, enjoying the easy silence. Then he spoke.

"I worry about you." He told her in a low tone, grazing his thumb up and down her forearm.

"What? Why?" She sat up a bit, looking at him. She'd tried to smile and gauge how serious he was. When he didn't return her smile she knew there was a problem.

He pulled her toward him, tucking her against his chest again. "Who do you know besides me?"

" I know a lot of people." Her voice had a chill that came with her defenses.

"Name 4."

She couldn't see him above her head nor did she want to. She knew there were questions to be asked about how she lived her life but she'd been happy that up until this point they'd never been asked. Nicky thought briefly about making up names. But what good would that do?

She sighed, sat up, and swung her legs around to the side of the bed. "I know you. Isn't that enough?"

"Sophie…" he began. She knew what he'd say. He shouldn't be her whole life, her lifeline. And in any other normal situation she would have agreed.

She left soon after and cried herself to sleep alone in her own cold bed. She thought of Jason and how with her loyalty and love for him she'd cursed herself.

Days later Ben had called her on her cell phone. They met for lunch and though he hadn't brought it up, hadn't asked her to, she agreed to get in touch with her family. He'd been so happy. His bright smile nearly broke her heart. She'd have to lie to keep him happy.

"I really think it's a good idea," he told her, enthusiastically. "I think once you put his all to rest, you'll be able to move on." He'd thought she was depressed over her lack of communication with her family and she didn't try to change his mind.

The rest of lunch had been light and airy just like all of their other lunches before. But her heart was heavier now and she felt a bit like she had to pretend again.

"So Lauren will be here tomorrow. I'd really love for you to meet her." He wiped his mouth with his napkin and dropped it back in his lap. "She's got some business here but it usually only lasts a few days before she has to head back." The information was twofold. 1. Meet the family and 2. His apartment would be off limits for a few nights. Her place? She saw the question in his eyes.

She didn't let her shrug begin. "Sure, " she told him. "That'd be great."

A few days later Nicky found herself in Ben's living room. They were drinking wine and playing a game of Scrabble, waiting for Lauren to return with a prearranged dinner.

Nicky had just taken a sip of her wine and was carelessly running a finger up and down the glass while she looked over her letter tiles. She hadn't seen too much of Ben the last few days, except when he came to the bar.

"What does Lauren do for the bank?" She asked while adding her h,e and r to his word 'feat.' "Feather." She told him with a smile.

He made a face while checking his tiles against the board. "Some kind of personalized banking. She used to work out of Rome but she kept this place when she was transferred to Barcelona. She still has some clients here so it's easier for her to just stay for a while and work instead of going back and forth." He made a new word and looked to see her reaction. "There you go."

"That's your word?" she asked quietly. He'd taken l,o, and v and added them horizontally to one of the e's in feather. "Love?"

If he'd given an answer it would have been cut short by the blonde walking in with the armload of brown bags. Take out from a local restaurant.

Both Nicky and Ben jumped up, startled by the noise and the movement. He immediately got up and went to his sister, taking the bags. "Mmm, Bucca di Beppos? I love them!" Nicky stood, uncomfortable, by the couch waiting for she didn't know what.

Lauren had stopped upon seeing Nicky, tilting her head slightly. Nicky had the feeling that she was being sized up, dissected, and assessed. Was this girl good enough for her baby brother? But the moment passed and Lauren came to her, her hand extended in a warm handshake.

"So you're the famous Sophie," She gave a full smile and pulled Nicky back to the couch with her. "Hey bunny! Bring the wine bottle out here, will you?" she called to her brother in the kitchen.

Nicky smirked. Bunny?

Lauren read her face. "Benjamin Bunny. The character in the book? We've always called him that."

"And thanks so much for sharing that in the first minute." Ben complained walking in with the bottle and a glass for his sister.

They ate and drank. They played cards and Scrabble and drank some more. They talked a bit about Bens' job, Sophie's job, and Lauren's work but not too much as she waved it away as too boring for words. "Believe me," she told them. "Big banking, big money equals big yawns."

"Yeah, but that's why you get the big bucks." Ben chimed in.

Lauren rolled her eyes and groaned, poking her thumb out toward her brother while her gaze locked on Nicky. "You really like this goofball?

"Of course she does!" Ben mock-roared, pulling Nicky in for a quick kiss, claiming her as his in front of his sister. "Ah, nothing like sisterly love." Ben told Sophie as they settled back into the folds of the couch.

"Any sisters for you Sophie?" Lauren asked.

"Um, yeah. One, younger. And a brother. Older." She nodded.

"Ah, beware the middle child," Lauren teased. "Always looking for attention."

"No, I—" Nicky didn't know why she was answering and tried to stop. She looked to Ben for help and he misunderstood her intent.

"Sophie hasn't spoken to her family in a while. But they're mending fences, right, Soph?

Nicky reddened, not wanting to talk about this at all. "Um. Yeah, trying anyway." She sighed a bit and toughened up. "So, who's up for a movie?"

They watched an old movie and when it was over Ben and Nicky stood up and stretched.

It was very late, nearing early. Lauren assured them that she'd clean up after they assured her that they were fine to take the walk back to Sophie's. "Don't worry about it," she told them as they walked to the door. "Ben will tell you I'm a bit of neat freak. I like to clean, even at this hour." She reached for the girl and gave her a gentle hug. "It was great meeting you Sophie."

Lauren Carpenter's didn't touch the mess in her apartment, nor did it bother her. The door clicked shut and she locked it behind them, a worried look on her pretty face.

She went immediately for the computer and checked a familiar webpage. She rubbed her forehead and sighed. "Shit." She grabbed the phone, dialed and waited for the familiar click and heard the voice: "Code in please."