Standard disclaimer, I don't own the rights to anything, this is done for entertainment not profit.

Chapter 4: Awkward Conversations and Questions

Sitting on my boat, with Lumen, watching the night sky as we return from the dump site. It reminds me so much of my last night with her, the two of us coming home after we killed Jordan.

I never want it to end. But I know I have to start talking, start figuring out how we're going to do this, I realize there's so much about her life I don't know. "Lumen I-"

BEEP BEEP BEEP

I curse silently as I answer my cellphone. "Hi Deb. Yes, I know it's almost late. Yes, I'm on the boat and I'll be back soon. Sorry, time kind of got away from me. Well, if the kids need to get to sleep fine. I'll be home soon. Bye."

I look at Lumen apologetically, not sure how to say what I want to say. Trying to explain that all I want is for us to go home together, but I need to find a way to tell the kids she's back first.

She breaks the silence. "It's ok, I get you need to go home. I'm staying at the Hyattt, room 235. Call me tomorrow morning." She looks into my eyes, willing me to believe her. "I'm not going anywhere, call me tomorrow and we'll find a time to talk."

I wonder how she can afford a hotel like that, I don't even know what she does for a living.

As she gets off the boat I try to think of something to say, some way to tell her how happy I am that she's back. I can't think of anything to say. All I can do is lean in and kiss her, hoping she understands what I can't find the words to say.

XXX

I arrive home soon after. I know Astor and Cody are probably asleep by now, I feel a little bad for making Deb stick around this late. I open the door ready to apologize when I see Deb and Quinn making out on the couch.

Suddenly, I don't feel bad anymore.

"Dex, we were just, I mean we weren't... I mean, the kids are asleep in the other room." Quinn says, apparently feeling even more uncomfortable than I do.

"It's fine, did you have a good time today?"

"Sure, just as soon as we got out the defibrillator and Quinn's heart started beating again we had a good time." Deb smiles at Quinn, I look confused.

"Cody asked if Quinn was going to be his new uncle, though from the look on Astor's face, I get the impression she put him up to it." Deb and I both laugh.

"Ok Dex, it's late and we need to get going, take care bro." I wave as they leave.

I have so much going through my head, but I need to get some sleep. I take my shirt off and get ready for bed. Just as my sister comes back in.

"Hey Dex, I forgot my... What the fuck happened to you back." I want to yell at her for not knocking, but that won't get me out of an answer.

"I, uh, got jumped," I try weakly.

Deb snorts. "By what, a puma? And if you got jumped, why didn't you call the police, or tell me when I called you? Bro, you are the worst liar."

I smile as I put my shirt back on. "Alright, you got me, I picked up some girl at a bar, we went back to her place, guess it got a little rough. Just a one night stand thing." I assume this will put her off the trail.

"Bullshit, you've never done a one night stand in your life. If you hooked up with someone, its more than a one time thing. Come on Dex, I want details." She smiles.

I try to think of some lie, try to remember the name of some old girlfriend I can say I ran into...if only I bothered to remember the names of my old girlfriends after we broke up.

"Lumen" I try the truth for once.

Deb's eyes go wide, for a second I think she wants to hit me. She motions for me to come outside with her. I can only assume she doesn't want to yell at me inside and risk waking the kids.

"Are you crazy Dex! You finally start making progress with those kids and you want to throw it all away? She's a flake Dex, she bailed on you, just like she bailed on her fiancé and her family. But you think it won't happen now, that she's going to stay and be a mother to three kids? What are you going to tell Astor when she disappears next time?" She says in a voice that is quiet enough not to wake the neighbors, but conveys her anger just as well.

I start to defend Lumen, but I realize she has a point. Telling Deb Lumen won't leave will be tough if I can't mention how we're connected, maybe if-

Wait a minute. I never told Deb any of that stuff about Lumen and her fiancé. Has she-

"Have you been spying on me!" I say louder than I intend.

"Yeah, um, it wasn't really like that. I just did a background check on her, I mean I knew she was more than just a tenant; and I was just worried about how fast you were moving with her, letting her live in your house already." She looks down, embarrassed.

"Jesus Deb, first Quinn and now YOU! You're a bad influence on each other!" I say it without thinking.

"That's not fair Dex! I was spying because I was WORRIED about you, I didn't want you to get hurt. And come on, after all the freaks we've let into our lives, don't you think I had a reason to be worried." She says.

I want to yell, but I get the sense that would do more harm than good. I take a breath and let as as much of the truth as I can. "Look Deb, it was hard for me to keep going after Rita died. Then the kids leaving, I felt lost. I'm not going into details, seems like you know a lot already, but Lumen was going through a tough time too. I wanted to help her through it. I know it's a risk letting her back into my life, but I really feel something for her, I think it can be different this time. Can you try to understand that?"

She nods, apparently glad I wasn't angrier about the spying thing. "I guess after the way you've been about me and Quinn, I should at least give you and Lumen a shot. But fair warning, if she hurts you or those kids I will hunt her down for it." She says, but I can tell she's kidding.

"I'll be sure to pass that along." I smile.

"At least you know she's not after you for your money." She chuckles.

I just stare at her for a moment wondering how she knows that.

"Common... seriously Dex? Bro, I'm glad I called you all that 'she's just my tenant' stuff. Even a new landlord knows to at least ask a tenant what they do for a living?" She says, laughing at my confusion.

"You want to explain that to me?"

"Dexter, you're girlfriend's a commodities trader, thanks to some money her family invested with her after college, well, she's not exactly making enough to retire right now, but she makes more in a year than both of us.. combined." She finishes, her face says I look as floored by this as I feel.

"Well, that's... interesting." Money was never a big when we were together. I thought that was because all the money in the world wouldn't buy her the justice she wanted. I guess money hasn't mattered much to her in a while, maybe ever.

"Dex, that little omission aside, it sounds like this girls been good for you. I can't remember you ever being this open before. Sorry I was so upset when you told me. If she makes you like this all the time, I say go for it. I've gotta go, but let me know what happens." She hugs me and turns to leave.

"Oh, and Dexter? Be careful where you take your shirt off from now on, you'll have a tough time explaining the scratches to Astor and Cody." She laughs.

I groan. My sister, always has to make that last comment.

A/N: I always thought it was odd the way we never found out what Lumen did for a living. I mean, she was getting married, but she seemed old enough to have completed her education, and I never got the impression she was just living at home waiting to be married off. At the same time, she never seemed concerned about money, this is my theory on why.

Any thoughts on the subject are welcome. As are any other reviews!