Author's note: after moving "He's standing beside me" to its own story I had space to fill. This was on my computer, and idk I thought it was kinda cute. 10-8-18


Something was wrong. The shop lights were still on though it was way past 6:00 by now. In the dark autumn night the shop was almost a beacon. Seymour cautiously stepped forward and looked in the window through the door. It appeared almost completely vacant. A rapidly growing Audrey ii was snoozing in its corner of the shop. The walls and floors were being decorated by its web of vines. Seymour's eyes panned over. Audrey was still inside. She was resting on a stool behind the counter. Her head was propped by her fist on her temple, and a magazine was open in front of her. She was still awake, though looked as if she was fighting sleep.

Seymour slowly opened the front door and she jumped. Noticing it was just him she relaxed and a smile spread on her face.

"I'm so sorry Audrey. I could've locked the shop by myself. You didn't have to wait up. I shoulda'..."

"No no no!" she exclaimed climbing off her stool and crossing the room. "I was waiting for you!"

"Really?" he asked as she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"How was it?" she asked. All day she waited in anticipation to hear what his series of meetings would bring. She knew one man named Bernstein was thinking about a television program. Another woman wanted to put him on the cover of Life. He must be so happy, she thought.

"Oh! Well…"

She pulled him away at arms length and looked at his face. He didn't look particularly excited. More exhausted, and almost distraught.

"Sweetie are you okay?"

She moved her hand to his cheek and he somewhat smiled.

"I'm okay. Just tired s'all."

They were nearly hidden by the thick frames of his glasses, but she noticed dark circles had formed under his eyes.

"Have you been sleeping much?"

It took him a few seconds to respond. Shortly he shook his head. "No not really, but I'm okay Audrey. Don't worry."

Audrey frowned. She could only imagine what the stress of having Mr. Mushnik gone and a million reporters calling every day could do to him. Though in reality it was the guilt and images of vines and Mushnik that kept him awake. They were haunting Seymour. It was fairly late and she herself was feeling fatigued from being in the shop all day.

"How about… you put some wata' on. I'll swing over to my apartment. I have some tea and sominex that might help. Then we can talk about your night."

Seymour smiled properly for the first time. Audrey kissed his nose and scurried out the door.

Returning to the shop just a minute later she noticed he was nowhere in sight. She locked the door behind her and shut off the upstairs light before heading to his basement door.

"Seymour?" she whispered.

Her eyes scanned the basement. The lights were still on. The kettle was whistling on the stove. Seymour lay on top of his cot, still fully dressed, and sound asleep. She smiled and shut the lights off. Tiptoeing down the stairs by the light of the small window she found her way across the room. She turned off the stove and stepped out of her heels. Snuggling up beside him she hooked her leg over his and was asleep in almost a moment.

Seymour awoke in the middle of the night to find her sleeping in his arms, and was almost certain he was still dreaming.