With the two of them safe in their bed, Cavendish went back downstairs. He noticed his steps were a lot lighter, and his heart was fluttering

What was happening to him? Was it love? Was it just wishful thinking? Whatever it was, he loved the feeling.

Did Helen cause this feeling?

It must have been her.

He was so focused on these feelings that he failed to notice Dakota sitting on the couch, tenderly cradling his swollen shoulder.

"Hey," Dakota said eventually.

Cavendish glanced at him, now finally noticing him. He forced a steely expression on his face. "That was very dangerous, what you did."

Dakota scowled. "I know. Do you really think I you have to tell me that now?"

"Yes, so you can understand in the future."

Dakota ignored him.

"What happened, exactly?" Cavendish demanded.

"Explosion."

"Milo?" Cavendish asked carefully.

"Probably."

Cavendish sighed, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "How's your shoulder?"

"Sore."

"Do you...want me to take you to the emergency room?"

"Don't trouble yourself."

"It won't be any trouble," Cavendish said quietly. "I...want to help."

Dakota scowled. "Sure you do."

Cavendish frowned. "Dakota, don't tell me you're mad because I yelled at you,"

"No, I'm mad because of the way you treat me, the way you treat Helen, and the way you treat yourself."

"What do you mean?" Cavendish asked with a frown.

"I've already explained."

"I don't treat you poorly," Cavendish claimed. "And Helen and I are fine."

Dakota raised an eyebrow.

Cavendish frowned at him. "What?"

"Will Helen tell me the same thing?"

Cavendish nodded. "Yes...we talked..."

Dakota slowly grinned. "I get it."

Cavendish stiffened. "Get what?"

"You've confessed your undying love for each other, haven't you?"

"Undying...?" Cavendish's eyes widened. "Oh, no!"

Dakota blinked. "Uh...Cavendish...?"

"What?"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Cavendish frowned. "What makes you think something might be wrong?"

"Just..." Dakota shrugged. "The way you reacted."

Cavendish shook his head. "It's nothing, Dakota...Helen's staying here."

"I know." Dakota smirked. "So you DID declare your love for each other, then?"

"Love?" Cavendish shook his head. "I just said she was beautiful."

Dakota let out a laugh.

Cavendish could feel himself blushing. He glared at Dakota. "You can't fall in love with someone you just met."

Dakota shrugged. "It's possible."

This prompted a smirk from Cavendish, who leaned forward and whispered, "Jennifer Lawrence..."

Dakota scowled. "Just tell her how you feel, already."

Cavendish huffed. "Later."

"So you admit you DO feel something for her?"

"Of course I do!" Cavendish snapped.

Dakota stared at him. "You...really do?"

"Yes..."

"Cavendish...that's awesome!" Dakota grinned.

"It...is?" Cavendish asked curiously, lifting his gaze.

"Of course!" Dakota patted his friend's back. "Love ain't something that comes round very often. If she feels the same, you should go for it!"

"But...it would be improper for me to-" Cavendish broke off. "Sh-She only just lost her husband..."

"Then you don't have to do anything now," shrugged Dakota. "Just...see where it takes you."

"See where it...takes me?" Cavendish sounded confused.

"Yeah. Go along for the ride. Spend more time with her and see if anything happens."

"But..." Cavendish sighed, sitting down on the empty side of the couch. "I-I haven't been in love since..."

"I know. And that's the way to kick her butt. Show her you can move on."

"But...what about...?"

"Don't think about that-." He broke off before he said a bad word. "Don't think about her. If you like Helen a lot, go for it."

"No, not her..." Cavendish hesitated. "My son."

"Oh." Dakota hesitated. "Look, I know he's your son, but...honestly, he's as good as dead to you."

"I know...but to start all over again...so late in my life..."

"Helen is not young either," reminded Dakota. "She told me earlier; she's 32."

Cavendish scowled. "Thirties is NOT old."

"It's not really young either."

"Alright Mister In-My-Twenties," Cavendish teased with mock irritation. "Mister My-Knees-Never-Ache, you tell me what old is?"

"I dunno. I'd only really call sixty and over "old"."

Cavendish smirked, shaking his head. "You have no idea."

"Why, are you old?"

"I feel old.'

Dakota laughed. "You're not old."

Cavendish gave him a look that said yeah, right, and smirked. "And you're not young."

"I'm not THAT young."

Cavendish chuckled. "Now, about that shoulder..."

Dakota winced.

"You need to get that looked at."

"Y-Yeah..."

"Do you want me to take you?" Cavendish offered.

Dakota just sighed.

"Yes, you do," Cavendish said after a while. "Get in the van"

"Fine."

Cavendish smiled. "Let me just tell Helen."

"Okay."

Helen was lying almost asleep, when she heard a knock on the door.

"Mmmm?" she called softly.

"I'm going to take Dakota to the emergency room," Cavendish explained.

"Okay," Helen called back sleepily.

"Cavendish walked back down the stairs. "Are you ready to go?"

Dakota groaned in pain. "I was ready, like, half an hour ago."

"Then you should have said something," Cavendish scolded.

"Sorry, I was too busy either listening to you telling me off or being alone while you cosied up to Helen," Dakota countered.

Cavendish winced. 'Hey, no hard feelings."

Dakota tried to laugh, but his shoulder flared up in pain. "Yeah, no hard feelings."

Cavendish got into the van, waiting patiently for his friend.

"Come on, then."

"I'm coming."

…

Helen shifted in her sleep, feeling the little baby next to her. Lily gave a small cry, swinging her little arms. Helen woke with a start, blinking. For a moment, her hazy eyes saw Lily as her daughter, Nancy.

Lily began to wail.

"Oh, shhhh…shh." Helen picked Lily up and cradled her in her arms, rocking her gently.

Lily, who had not eaten since that night, began to cry louder. Helen bit her lip. "I had Nancy over ten years ago. I-I don't know if I can feed you, little one."

If Lily could talk, she would have said that Cavendish kept her formula in the pantry in the kitchen. Instead, she just cried louder.

Helen winced. Like all mothers, she absolutely hated hearing a baby crying when it needed something that she couldn't provide. She quickly got up, wincing in pain, and hurried down to the kitchen to see if she could find anything there.

Lily kept bawling, now kicking her little feet.

After about ten minutes of searching, Helen finally found a pre-prepared bottle of milk. Lily saw it and immediately began to quiet, anticipating the food.

Helen smiled, finally sensing peace, and began to feed Lily. Lily drank eagerly, sucking the formula down hungrily. Helen felt her heart twist at this familiar sight. Nancy…

Lily, content with her milk, stared up at Helen with curious blue eyes.

"Hello!" Helen beamed.

Lily opened her mouth in a smile, milk dribbling down her chin.

Helen giggled and wiped it away with a towel. Lily laughed. Content, she began to fall asleep.