I wasn't planning on taking so long to update, but an idea hit me for another story and I guess I've been working on them simultaneously. But I'm going to focus on this one from now on until it's done. Also, note that this happens in a universe where Tower of Terror will still be there in the future. Still mad about that... Anyway, to the story...

The quartet walked down Main Street, and picked up some ice cream from one of the shops, browsing the candy section.

Ralph pointed to the caramel apple counter, "Can I have one?"

Paige looked over and replied, "You already have ice cream Ralph."

"Later?"

"Okay, on our way out of the park tonight, as long as you don't eat too much sugar today. You... don't process sugar well," she replied, remembering the candy corn incident.

Veronica had witnessed the exchange, and walked over to Walter, who was a few aisles over, "She's a good mother," but her voice said that she wanted to say more.

Walter grunted in agreement, wanting to cut off whatever conversation Veronica was planning.

But she continued anyway, "And you're a good... role model to Ralph."

Now Walter got it. He grunted agreement again, walking away to find Ralph and Paige, avoiding a discussion about his feelings, determined not to slip.

He stopped dead in his tracks when he rounded the corner and found Paige bent over, looking at the bottom shelf. He was pretty sure he forgot how to breathe. He'd noticed her particularly casual outfit with leggings before, but her long, loose blouse had covered the most... conspicuous aspects. But now, even as she stood up straight, her shirt caught onto the back of her leggings, revealing every curve. He swallowed, his mouth suddenly going dry, and could only be glad of the fact she seemed so intense on the product she held, she didn't even notice his presence. That gave him time to look away and recover before she turned to him and said, "Hey, I'm just gunna buy this real quick and then I'll be ready, okay?"

He nodded and smiled, "Okay." But inside he was cursing those leggings.

As they entered the center of the park, Ralph announced, of course, that he'd memorized the park map in preparation, and led them into Frontierland.

They strolled around, enjoying the atmosphere, ate some barbecue chicken, then rode Pirates of the Caribbean. Walter had fully expected to suffer through the 'entertainment' in return for time spent with Paige and Ralph, but as the day went on, he realized he was actually enjoying the rides. Although, that could be just because Paige and Ralph were enjoying them, and that made him happy. Paige and him were interacting normal again, and it felt like a fist that had been gripping his chest had suddenly released. But there still remained the little voice in his head, buzzing like an annoying fly, which warned him to be careful in every conversation, else he fall into something he can't handle.

He was thinking about this when Paige got his attention, "That's a cute shop," Paige pointed and headed in its direction.

Walter internally groaned. He could enjoy the rides, shows, and food, but sifting through over-commercialized cheap plastic trinkets? Not so much.

Paige saw the look on his face and rolled her eyes, "Oh, come on. We'll just go in for five minutes."

Walter trailed behind Paige, Veronica, and Ralph as they entertained themselves with the merchandise. He found himself unsuccessfully fighting a smile a few times when their silly behavior amused him. Maybe this wasn't so bad…

Then something caught his eye. It was a small rack of rings, encased in soft blue cases. They were gold, with a crystal Mickey and a cursive letter. He instinctively began looking for a P. He didn't know what it was, but those rings just looked so… Paige. He could just see the look on her face when he gave it to her. A voice in the back of his head said he shouldn't, but he shoved it aside; it was perfectly acceptable for friends and colleagues to surprise each other with gifts... right?

Paige glanced behind her and realized they'd left Walter behind. She turned around and managed to spot him through the displays and clumps of people. She nudged Ralph and headed back toward Walter.

Then she spotted an Indiana Jones hat. She picked it up, and with a wink and a 'Sshh' signal to Ralph, she began to sneak up behind Walter. Successfully plopping the hat on his head from behind, she smirked when he turned around.

"Well hellooo, Mr. Jones," she drawled in a soft, sultry voice, batting her eyelashes.

Walter, still ruminating about the rings, was slow to process. Who was Mr. Jones? Those were flirtation markers, weren't they? Why was Paige pretend-flirting with pretend-Mr. Jones? And was it just that, or was she also real-flirting with real-Walter?

She must have seen his confusion, because her smirk widened into a full grin, "You know, as in Indiana Jones?"

Brow furrowed, Walter responded, "Oh yes, I think I remember that movie."

She giggled, finding his obliviousness at pop culture adorable as always, and reflexively touched his shoulder, squeezing slightly before realizing what she was doing and dropping her hand. A lump formed in the back of her throat as she was reminded how much she missed him, and how much it was her fault. She had thought a lot about their relationship after Tim left. It was as if Tim's presence had clouded her judgement, giving her a place to retreat and hide from what was happening. She hadn't wanted to admit it, but she'd screwed up, bad. She'd been incredibly unfair to Walter, expecting him to be normal when she fully knew he wasn't, and abandoning her job as a communicator, and worse, as his friend. She'd been so focused on protecting herself from abandonment, that she had abandoned him. The morning after coming to this realization and crying her eyes out, she'd ended the attempt of a long-distance relationship with Tim, but it seemed to be too late. She supposed she couldn't blame Walter if he no longer wanted her, out of his own self-preservation.

Walter smiled at her giggle. He loved that sound so much. But his third question went unanswered. He understood that her touch could be a flirtation marker, but isn't it also a sign of platonic friendship? He still couldn't tell the difference. This was all so confusing. Then a thought hit him: how many of those touches over the years, all the times she brushed her hand on him, were flirtation markers? How many had he missed? How many times had he unknowingly rejected her by not reciprocating?

"Walter?" She barely uttered his name above a whisper. He'd been staring. She couldn't quite read the look in his eyes, but whatever he'd been thinking, the emotion behind it made her stomach flutter. It was the first sign of emotion toward her she'd seen in months, and she didn't know if she was thrilled, confused, or worried. Probably all of the above.

He blinked at his name, not sure how long he'd been thinking. He awkwardly tried to recover, as if looking away now could hide the fact he'd been staring at her. He cleared his throat, "Uh, right, well um, let's go."

He began to walk towards the door, when Paige grabbed his elbow, "Walter, the hat."

"Oh, right." He took it off and placed it back with the others. He could feel her looking at him curiously, but he carefully avoided her gaze as they left the shop.

Ralph and Veronica gave each other knowing looks, and Ralph whispered out of earshot from the future couple, "I haven't even started my plan yet, and it's already working."

Veronica smiled, "I guess we shouldn't have underestimated the power of the happiest place on Earth, eh?"

After riding Thunder Mountain Railroad, Ralph managed to talk to Walter without the others hearing, "You know, there's a star room at Rancho del Zocalo. I thought it might be cool, but when I looked at pictures, I think it might be over-hyped."

Walter replied, "Yeah? What does it look like?"

"It has colorful glass stars hanging from the ceiling, and they reflect light onto the ceiling and walls."

Walter shrugged, "We could still check it out if you want. Your mom might enjoy it."

Ralph only barely contained his smirk. Hook-line and sinker. Trying to be as nuetral and nonchalant as he could, he shrugged, "Sure."

Walter caught up to Paige and Veronica and explained what Ralph had told him, finishing with, "I think you might like it."

Paige smiled, "Yeah, that sounds nice."

They got their food, and Ralph lead them to an intimate room with only a few tables. "Oh, Walter, you're right. I love it." The reflected light was the only lighting in the room, giving the sense of dazzling bright stars above them in a night sky.

As they ate, Paige couldn't help feel a little flushed. The room was more than beautiful, it was, dare she say, romantic.

Her mom interrupted her thoughts, "Ralph, since we're both done eating, why don't we take another spin on Thunder Mountain?"

She then winked at Ralph, while Ralph nodded enthusiastically. Paige realized that winking thing was a thing with them, and it bothered her a little that her son and her mom might share something that she wasn't a part of. She knew it shouldn't, but after being hurt by her mom for so many years, her protective instincts for Ralph still made her worry about their growing relationship. "Oh, I don't know, Mom..."

"Oh, please?" Veronica made an exaggerated pouty face, "I just want to spend some quality time with my grandson."

Paige almost retorted, 'you've been spending time with him all day.' But she knew that would be selfish, and petty, and irrational. So she sighed, "All right."

Walter looked at Paige as they left, "He's fine with her. The lines are short, they won't be gone more than half an hour."

Paige sighed again, taking a slightly aggravated bite of her enchilada, "I know, it's just..." Walter waited silently while she thought. "I cut my mom out of my life a long time ago, before Ralph. I made the decision when I got pregnant that it would stay that way, because she'd been such a terrible influence in my childhood, and I couldn't let that happen to Ralph. I thought it was the right thing to do, but now..." She bit her lip and turned to Walter, who was looking at her intensely. "I'm not sure what to do. I still don't trust her. Every morning I half expect to wake up and find out that she has disappeared again." She started to feel tears well up in her eyes, and swallowed thickly before continuing, "My experience with her tells me not to let her and Ralph get close, but... Do I have a right to do that? And what if, by some miracle she has changed? I could be robbing my son of having a grandma." Her bottom lip trembled a little, and she looked away, rubbing her face, trying to get back under control. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say all that..." She trailed off, unsure what to say. And she really hadn't meant to spill her heart out to Walter. She didn't know where all that came from. Apparently this was bottled up more than she thought. She glanced back up at Walter tentatively, and the look in his eyes melted her heart.

"No, it's ok, Paige."

She sighed, "I don't know, I guess I'm struggling with this more than I thought." I guess I needed you more than I thought, she thought. Then whispered, "I don't know what to do."

"Um, w-well, I can't really tell you what the right thing is, b-but..." He wasn't sure he should say this next part. Yes, she seemed to want advice from him, but what were his boundaries? He and Paige had been so estranged for so long he really had no idea anymore. But he continued, "I think you should give her a chance, or at least a chance with Ralph. E-even if she does hurt him, I, um, I think that would be l-less hurtful than if he thinks you prevented a good relationship." When her eyes flashed, he quickly clarified, "N-not that you are. I don't trust her much more than you do, because I trust your judgement. B-but... he might not see it like that when he gets older."

Paige deflated, her shoulders sagging. After a moment, she replied weakly, "You're right." Paige incongruously wondered how they'd flipped roles, where he was giving her relationship advice. Then a wave of guilt hit her, "Did I make the wrong decision before?"

Walter shook his head, "No, Paige, you made the only decision you could to protect your son. And whatever you decide now, I-I'm sure it will be the right one, because you're a great mom."

Her heart melted a little more, and she gave a somber laugh, "Thanks, Walter, that's really sweet." Her voice gave out a little on the last word, so she swallowed before finishing, "But great moms make mistakes too, you know."

Walter's lips curled up slightly in the corners, knowing it was true but having no idea how to admit that but still comfort her.

She placed her hands tentatively on his shoulders, and leaned in slightly, gauging his reaction. When he stiffened but didn't pull away, she slowly pulled him in for a hug, making sure to give him every opportunity to pull away if he needed to. But he didn't.

Alarm bells were ringing in his head, but at that moment he didn't care. He felt himself melting against her, and wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her closer.

She whispered in his ear, "Thank you."

"Always."

Hope you enjoyed it, and reviews are very welcome, as always! Also, this chapter and the next one are generally pretty sweet, but there IS some angst coming up, so be prepared...