Author's Note: For those of you who have read my fan fiction "Return to Skid Row", the beginning of this may seem familiar. This is because this was a "deleted scene" from the story, involving Seymour and Audrey truly falling in love. It was cut because of length, but I never got rid of the draft that I made of it, so I made this. Enjoy the oneshot that ensued from my randomness!

*S. Snowflake

Something in the Eyes

"Please, please, just take me home, docta'! I'll never do it again, I promise!" she managed to squeak.

"Maybe I would take you home if I was feelin' more generous, but not tonight!" the dentist growled and flung her onto the pavement again. "You can walk home; it's only across the street anyway."

"B-but docta'…"

"Don't you argue with me! I'll see you next week… if I even want to keep you around."

Then the dentist got back onto his motorcycle and drove away, leaving her to fend for herself in the middle of the night. She tried to relieve her inner pain by crying, but that only brought the throbbing headache back with even greater strength. Her vision began to fade again, and her head pulsed from blood rushing where she had struck her head. She felt strangely very numb and almost peaceful before everything went black…

* * *

When Audrey awoke after the night out with Orin, she found herself somewhat disoriented inside a room that she had never seen before. The look and temperature of told her that it was underground. There were two shelves displaying several exotic plants, a light bulb dangling from the ceiling for a lamp, a half-busted radio humming faintly in the corner, and an alarm clock beside where she was lying on a rather springy cot. She was just about to try standing up when her co-worker Seymour stumbled down the stairs. When she saw him, she nearly screamed from confusion, embarrassment, and fear.

"Audrey!" he quietly exclaimed, coming closer to show his concern. "Thank God, I thought you were down for the count back there!"

"D-did you bring me here, Seymour?" Audrey squeaked, uncomfortably twitching on the cot that she now knew was his.

"Yeah. I went out behind the shop a few hours ago and I found you there all banged up." He thought carefully before continuing, "Audrey, what happened to you?"

"Oh, nothin'," she lied, then sat up and attempted to stand. "L-listen Seymour, I appreciate ya' help, but I really should be going… eek!" She fell to the floor with that small shriek, for she had forgotten about the bad ankle that Orin had given her.

"Audrey!" Seymour yelped again, and then ran to her side and gently held her upright. "You're not going anywhere on that leg. You should just stay here."

Audrey might have argued with him, but then she looked into his grey-blue eyes and felt suddenly very safe.

Seymour's face, likewise, turned red as a beet as he stared into his co-worker's beautiful eyes of green. "Um, I-I h-have to get back to work," he stuttered, and then ran up the stairs to continue his sweeping. "Don't you go anywhere though."

Audrey sighed, feeling a strange mixture of resistance to her co-worker's overly kind deed, grace for being okay, and regret for not asking him to stay with her for just a minute longer. Thankfully, Seymour reappeared in the room throughout the day, checking on her often. He brought her lunch from Shmendrik's Diner down the street and tried to help her overcome the pain of her swelling ankle and headache by providing her with a cold washcloth. They barely spoke to each other, though Audrey was desperate for company lying alone in the basement. When the day had passed, Audrey's patience and reluctance to speak to the shy man had worn off. When he came down into the basement for the eighth time or so that day, she engaged in conversation in the only way she could.

"These plants here," She indicated to the ones on the back shelf. "-Are they all yours?"

Seymour stared back into her eyes, grateful that she had started the conversation rather than him. "Yes, they are. I grew them myself."

She smiled appreciatively. "They're beautiful."

"Thank you," he replied and sat down on a stool across from her. He smiled sweetly, unintentionally making Audrey's heart do a small leap of joy.

"Would-would you mind showing them to me?" she asked slowly.

Seymour nodded with enthusiasm, and proceeded to show Audrey all of his plants that night, even telling her the nicknames he gave them.

The topic of conversation changed from plants to stories and even a joke or two, as if the two were best friends. Before that night, Audrey had seen little in her co-worker Seymour other than a shy man in big glasses, but now she saw the beauty inside his heart. It was his most charming quality of all. Seymour was seeing Audrey with greater perception as well. Her beauty alone had captured his heart since the day that she had started working at the shop, but now he saw what a special person she truly was. He could have listened to her speak for hours on end, squeaky voice or not, but sadly knew that they both had to get their rest.

"-But Seymour, I can't stay here. Where will you sleep?" Audrey asked when Seymour insisted on her staying in the shop overnight.

"Don't worry about me. I've got a back up plan," Seymour answered, climbing up the stairs with a pillow in hand and ducking under the old counter where he used to sleep as a child. He got somewhat comfortable before closing his eyes and removing his glasses.

"Goodnight, Seymour," Audrey called upstairs, then curled up into a ball and fell asleep. Despite the cold temperature and uncomfortable bed, she felt very happy spending the night in the shop basement. For once, Audrey felt cared for and appreciated. It was a nice change from her life of having nobody being there for her.

Seymour's so sweet and understanding…I like that.

"Goodnight, Audrey," he replied down to her and smiled happily, thinking something to himself.

There's no doubt about it. She's got to be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen…

* * *