Pete jogged in place under his coat trying to keep himself warm against the cold as he stood at his post outside the school, guiding the young students inside the building. He and Maisy had reluctantly parted ways last night, hoping not to spur the rumors around school quite yet by showing up for work together in the morning.

Pulling his scarf up further around his neck, he grinned when the scent of lavender rose from his frozen fingers. Her scent had stained his skin as they had spent all of their Sunday in bed until Jerry began to grow anxious, wanting to play.

"Hey, Mr. Dunham!" A young voice called from behind him. There stood some of his older history students, all pushing and shoving each other playfully as they made their way up to him.

"Alright, lads?" He questioned with bemusement as they shoved one of their own, Paul, forward. His cheeks and ears were red as he looked up at his teacher, though Pete couldn't tell if that was from the cold or embarrassment.

"Mr. Dunham, are you dating Miss Thompson?" Paul asked. Pete let out an amused laugh

"Cheeky lads, of course not!" He laughed, especially when Maisy appeared and gave a wave to the small group, causing the boys to startle.

"Morning, boys!" She called out cheerfully. Pete laughed again as flushed cheeks popped up throughout the group. Boys, he thought.

"Go on you muppets, get to class!"

"'Ello, sweetheart." Pete said as he dropped tiredly into the chair across from Maisy in the staff room during his lunch break. "Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving" He added, remembering it was almost the American holiday.

"Thanks," She smiled in reply looking up from her book, trying to contain and compartmentalize her homesickness, "You look beat." She noticed as he slouched further down in his plastic chair.

"Apparently," He sighed dramatically, "one of my boys saw us 'round town this weekend, holdin' hands and shit, walkin' with Jerry. They're like fuckin' chicks askin' me if we're dating or married. Nearly had to beat them to get them to do a single fuckin' chapter in their reader, then Connors walks in right in the middle of it." Pete said with exhaustion, though Maisy could tell he found it a bit amusing.

Companionable silence descended on the table as they continued to eat their lunch, leaving Maisy to her thoughts.

She wondered if Philip's father, his mother having passed a few years ago, would be willing to come in for a meeting. Every day since the beginning of school his older sister Kayla- only 15 herself- would come by the school to pick up her brother after she herself got out of class. Judging by her macabre makeup and dyed black hair, Maisy figured she wouldn't be chomping at the bit to talk about her little brother's emotional well being. Instead, hoping to get some answers as to Philip's sudden moroseness, she figured she would attempt to get the story from his guardian.

"Mase? Maisy?" Pete chuckled, waving his hand in front of her eyes to recapture her attention, "You alright, love?"

"Yeah, fine," She said with a wave, "just wondering how I'm gonna find enough energy to finish the day, go shopping for dinner, and then get back here in time for the faculty meeting, then get back home to finish dinner before falling dead of exhaustion."

"Well lucky for you, me and the boys are going to the Abbey tonight, and some of the girls are comin'." He suggested with feigned innocence. "'Could always eat there." He shrugged.

"Are pub food and take away all you eat?" Maisy chided playfully, "You know, a home cooked meal- that your mother didn't cook for you-" Maisy ribbed, pointing her finger at him to cut him off before he could argue, "won't kill you- promise." She laughed.

"So you want me to pick you up at yours before we go to the Abbey?" Pete offered dryly around a mouthful of bread. Snickering to herself Maisy used her napkin to wipe a smudge of mustard from the corner of his mouth.

"Fine…" Maisy sighed goodheartedly before finishing her salad. Though she could manage, Maisy still had not mastered the stick shift car she had leased to use while in England. Not to mention she had to constantly remind herself to drive on the "wrong" side of the road. After a quick drive to Dave and Michelle's with Maisy behind the wheel, Pete decided for her own safety, as well as the general public's, he would try to deter her from getting behind the wheel whenever possible.

Catching the clock Maisy let out a muttered curse, "I have to jet over to the library to take some books out quick and then my boys are gonna be back from recess, so I'll have to go get the hose ready." She joked before surveying the room. Seeing as how only the elderly secretary Francine Howard was in the room, and she was distracted by a copy of The Times, Maisy leaned down to give Pete a solid peck on the corner of his mouth.

Catching the sway of her hips as she walked away, Pete shook his head before taking another bite. Those hips are going to be the death of me, Pete thought with a chuckle,

"Miss Thompson, Nathan poured the red paint all over the art table!"

"No I didn't! You're lying!"

"No I'm not!"

"All right boys! The bell's about to ring- it's time to go home! Get your backpacks and coats, line up by the door and raise your quiet signs so the prefects can take you to your bus lines!" Maisy called loudly to the room cheerily, trying to smother the stress in her voice as she internally cursed God for letting it be Monday.

Nathan had indeed spilt the paint- she had watched from across the room but was unable to stop him in time as she was trying to explain to her classroom aide for what seemed like the millionth time why the students were not allowed to go into the supply closet unaccompanied, after one of the boys had spilt all of the construction paper. Imogen had taken the week off and Maisy realized now how much she took her for granted.

The older students deemed Prefects came to bring the boys to the bus lines, leaving Maisy with the "Strollers", or students whose parents picked them up everyday from school.

Soon all of the students were gone except for Philip Miller who was stoically at his table, idly coloring, his chin balanced on his tiny little palm.

"Philip, did your sister say she was going to be late picking you up today?" Maisy asked softly, with a warm smile. Philip looked up and shook his head.

"No, Miss." He said.

"Oh, it's fine. I'm sure she's on her way." Maisy said, all the while glancing at the clock. Kayla was half an hour late to pick up her brother. "What do you say to a little snack?" Maisy offered, bringing out the box of cheese crackers she kept in the metal cabinet for special occasions.

The corners of Philip's mouth twitched before he nodded his head. As Maisy began to spread a napkin as a placemat on the table in front of him, a gentle knock sounded at the door.

"'Ello, mate!" Pete said jovially as he entered the room. "Wha's happenin'?" He asked as he ambled across the room, taking a seat at Philip's table. Taking in the boy's melancholy mood, Pete comically tried to shove his long legs under the miniature table, to no success. Pete gave a smile of his own when he saw the corners of the small boy's mouth fighting to stay down.

"We're just waiting for Philip's sister Kayla to pick him up. She seems to be running a bit late, so we're having a snack and practicing coloring in the lines, huh Philip?" He nodded as Pete reached over for the box of crackers, helping himself to a handful.

"You're good at coloring in the lines, mate! You do a lot of colorin' at home?" He asked the small boy. Without looking up, Philip nodded. "Well, good on you. Did you know I never learned how?" Philip's eyes dashed up, disbelievingly at that, "God's honest, still can't to this day." Philip's eyes narrowed, as if he doubted Pete, then gave a small shrug and went back to his crayons.

As Philip seemed well involved with his coloring, Pete took to talking to Maisy.

"You still coming to the Abbey tonight?" He asked.

"Yeah, after the meeting. Do you think it'll take long?" Maisy asked, seeing as she had only been to two before, and both were focused on beginning of the school year.

"Nah, I think it'll be quick. 'Sides the boys will be drinkin' till someone spews so, don't worry about missin' anything." Pete laughed, and then returned to Philip.

Maisy set to finish evaluating the art projects her students had done earlier. Once she got through about seven Colorful fish, she looked up and noticed the young girl standing in the door.

"Kiki!" Philip shouted before running over to his sister, wrapping his twig arms around her waist. Kayla rolled her eyes and tried to peel her younger brother off her. Walking towards them, Maisy gave the girl a wide smile.

"Philip, why don't you go help Mr. Dunham clean up?" As Philip slowly worked his way over to his table, Maisy turned her attentions to his sister.

"Are you alright? We were very worried about you."

Rolling her eyes, the young girl murmured, "I'm fine."

"What happened?" Maisy asked, her brow scrunching in concern.

"Got lost." Kayla replied crossly, folding her arms over her chest, allowing her died black hair to fall in front of her eyes. Maisy took a steadying breath.

"Well, I'm glad you're here now. I actually have a couple of questions for you about your brother."

Kayla's spine stiffened and her eyes finally flicked up to meet Maisy's, "Why?"

"Well, his behavior has been a bit off lately, a little despondent. I was wondering if you had any ideas as to why that is?" Maisy prodded gently. Kayla's jaw jutted out defiantly.

"Dunno."

"Well maybe you could tell your fath-"

"He wouldn't know." Kayla said blandly, though Maisy could taste a bit of urgency in her voice. Maisy gave a small smile at the girl and wrote down her number on a scrap of paper.

"All the same, could you have him give me a call?" Maisy asked gently. The young girl pursed her lips as she took the paper.

"Come on, Philip." She grumbled, barely waiting for the small boy to catch up before leaving.

"Well, she's just a bucket of roses, ain't she?" Pete added sarcastically

"Ay, ay!" Pete called out as he led Maisy through the smokey pub. A group of cheers greeted them as the couple made their way towards the group of half-drunk men now dominating the pool table.

"You look lovely, Mase." Dave complimented as he gave Maisy a kiss on the cheek. Maisy blushed, though not from the kiss, but rather from the way the Pete's hand tightened possessively on hers, as if to remind her who she belonged to. Casting a look back at him, Maisy bit her lip at the suggestive wink he sent her.

"Hi Maisy!" Stacy waved happily, if not a bit drunk from the bar stool where she was watching Ike play pool. Maisy waved and meandered over to the blonde who happily gave her a tight hug.

"You look beautiful today! Look at your curls! And this outfit!" Maisy blushed as she looked down at her outfit, feeling commonplace next to the stunning blonde. Her cream colored button down, paired with dark skinny jeans and plain black flats seemed dull compared to the always put together Stacy.

"Thanks." She replied as she self-consciously straightened her shirt.

"I'm getting a pint, you want something, babe?" Pete asked, laying a hand on the small of her back on his way to the bar.

"Gin and tonic." She answered absentmindedly watching his lean frame lean over the dirty wood, whistling to catch Terry's attention.

"'Ello, love." Swill shouted at her as he returned from the restroom.

"Hey, Swill." Maisy said with a fond roll of her eyes. After she had run into him twice at the supermarket, then again last month at the pharmacy, she deducted he must be the friend Pet had mentioned on their unofficial date that lived near her. She found herself having a soft spot for him, with his never fading enthusiasm and all around jolliness.

"Here ya go, Love." Pete smiled, handing Maisy her drink. Maisy smiled her thanks, her eyes following him as he walked back to the pool table, giving Ike a slap on the back.

Stacy gave a low whistled and shook her head.

"You live a hard life." She said glibly, a smile crinkling the corners of her eyes.

"Oh, shut up!" Maisy laughed, tearing her eyes away from her man, and falling back into conversation with her new-found friend.

Maisy and Stacy were well settled into the corner booth, each a couple drinks in. Michelle, or Red, had gotten off work and joined the group in the back of the pub, where they had long since migrated.

"Shots!" Ned shouted abruptly.

"You payin'?" Dave asked with a snort even as he pulled his own wallet out.

"I'ma bike messenger. You're a fucking pilot, you berk. I think your wallet can handle it." Ned replied caustically.

Pete passed a glass to Maisy as the waitress returned with the shots.

"Thanks, babe." Maisy smiled, giving him a sweet kiss.

Maisy felt him grin, before his hand clasped around the back of her neck pulling her in for an even deeper kiss. Her eyes opened in confusion a minute later, as his lips were pulled abruptly from her own.

"Save that for the bedroom, eh?" Keith asked, seeming offended and disgusted by their public display of affection. Beside him Bovver, setting up his next shot, snorted at his friend's cynicism.

"Christ, me and Red are newlyweds and I don't think we go at it half as much as you two." Dave exclaimed.

"And you enjoy it when he mauls you like that, do you?" Swill asked before Pete could cut either of them off.

Maisy dramatically sighed and looked somewhere off in the distance, "I just lie back, close my eyes and think of England."

Pete clasped his arm a bit tighter around Maisy's waist as they made their way to the tube station. The many drinks coursing through her veins had her stumbling, despite her ballet flats. Pete got a kick out of having to be the sober, responsible one of the two.

To his happy surprise, Maisy appeared to be a jovial and amorous drunk, stopping frequently to kiss, followed by happy little sighs.

"Did you have a good time tonight?" Pete asked after one of these quick stops.

"Yes. I don't feel as homesick after we hang out with the guys. It makes me feel like this is my home." She answered. Pete's brow scrunched. He new Maisy was close with her family, and that she often missed them when she first moved to London, but that was three, nearly four months ago.

"You're still homesick?" He asked unnerved.

"Yes and no," She decided after a moment's contemplation, her mind a bit hazy from the consumed alcohol. "Next week is Yankee Thanksgiving and you and the boys remind me of me and my siblings which makes me miss them, but I miss them I think about as much as I would miss you if I left, so I don't think that makes me homesick; I think I have two homes now, and from now on, when I'm with one I'll miss the other. Does that make sense?" She asked wrapping holding his hand and leaning her head against his shoulder.

Pete leant over and planted a kiss in the pretty, and mused, waves of her hair. Maisy gave a little hum and nestled closer.

"Yeah, it does, Love." He answered, giving a content sigh of his own.

A/N: Chapter 7, down the hatch! I hope you liked it, sorry it took me so long to post! I loved all of your reviews and tried to respond to most of them, so sorry if I accidentally missed yours! I tried to make this fluffy, but it wasn't really working so: sorry!

On the upside, buckle in cause next chapter will be filled with angsty-ish drama. I think. :b

Thank you for reading, and feel free to leave a review, even to say it sucked! Lol Thanks again!

-Melinda :)

*Update: I fixed the little typo in the beginning of the chapter that messed with the timeline. This whole chapter takes place the Monday, after the last chapter, which is the Monday of Thanksgiving week! Sorry!*