Here's a new scene for ya! A little father/daughter bonding :)

After I leave the office for the day, I stop at the grocery store to get stuff to make lasagna for Cady. I also pick up a six pack of beer.

I had just put the lasagna in the oven when I see Cady pull up. She's about an hour early.

I step out on the porch to greet her. "Hey, Punk."

"Hey, sorry I'm early! I got done with work and decided just to come straight here."

"No problem. I just put the lasagna in. "

"Yum, I can't wait." She grins ear to ear like she always did when she was little and we had lasagna.

"Don't get too excited. Your mother's was better than mine."

She looks over at me as she walks into the house. "Is it the same recipe?"

"The exact same recipe."

She laughs.

"I'm convinced she had a secret ingredient that she didn't tell anyone about."

She laughs harder. "That sounds like Mom."

When she smiles she looks so much like her.

I head to the fridge and grab a couple of beers. "You wanna sit out side for a bit? It's nice out." I ask as I hold up a beer.

"Sure." There's that smile again.

We head out to the porch and sit on the steps. I ask her about her day at work and she talks about the people that she works with, but not about any of the cases she's working on. She seems to like her job, which makes me happy. She says a bunch of the coworkers get together from time to time for drinks, and I wonder if any of these coworkers are men her age.

"Do you work with any eligible young bachelors?"

She raises her eyebrows at me and takes a drink of her beer. "Eligible young bachelors?" Now she's laughing at me.

"Why is that funny? I'm just trying to see if there's anyone at work that you're interested in."

She laughs again lightly. "I guess I just never thought I'd hear you use the term eligible young bachelor."

"You're dodging the question."

A coy smile appears on her face. "There may or may not be someone at work that I could possibly be interested in."

I laugh. "I see. And have you gone out on a date with this hypothetical man?"

"Not just the two of us, no. He's part of the group that gets together for drinks."

"I see."

"I'm not in any rush. We'll see what happens."

I nod and look out towards the sunset. "Don't wait too long."

Out of the corner of my eye I see her turn her head in my direction, but she waits a few moments before she speaks.

"Maybe you need to take your own advice, Dad."

Taking a drink of my beer, I realize I probably walked right into that one.

"I know I just asked you about your relationship, but I'm your father, I'm allowed to do that. I'm not really comfortable talking to you about my love life, even if you are a grown woman."

She smirks at me for a few seconds before replying. "So you do have a love life?"

I walked right into that one too. I'm really not very good at this whole talking thing.

"You know what I mean."

"How is Vic?"

I stare back at her as I try to keep my expression neutral.

"She's good, I guess."

"Did you two patch things up after the other night?"

I nod my head. "Yes. I apologized."

"And she forgave you?"

I smile. "I think so."

"Good."

I take a sip of my beer. "Yeah."

We sit in silence for a couple of minutes before she turns and faces me.

"Okay, I know you want me to stay out of it, but can I just say one thing please and then I'll drop it?" She looks at me expectantly.

I take another drink of my beer. "Go ahead."

"I just want you to know that I don't have any problem with you and Vic… if there is a you and Vic."

I start to say something but she puts a hand up and cuts me off.

"Just wait. I know you Dad, I know you're worried about her age."

How is it that everyone can read me like a book?

"But I just want you to know that it doesn't bother me, that she's so close to my age. The thought was a little weird at first, but then I saw how you two are together and it makes more and more sense as time passes. If she makes you happy, that's all that I care about."

I don't say anything, and she reaches over and kisses me on the cheek.

"Okay, that's all I wanted to say. We can change the subject now."

I smile. "Thank you."

We sit outside for a big longer and enjoy the sunset until the lasagna is done.

After dinner, once Cady has cleared her plate, I ask her for the verdict.

"So… how was it?"

"It was good!"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Not as good as Mom's though, you're right."

"I knew I wasn't just crazy," I say as I shake my head.

She laughs. "Maybe you should ask Vic, she's Italian right? Maybe her family has a secret ingredient."

I chuckle. "I never thought about that."

"Ask her!… And I hate to eat and run, but I really should get going."

"That's okay, punk. Thanks for coming over."

"Thanks for the invitation," she says as she gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "If I don't see you the rest of the week, I'll see you at Henry's party this weekend right?"

I nod as I walk her to the door. "Yep."

"Good." She beams. "Goodnight, Dad."

"Goodnight, punk." I stand out on the porch and watch her drive away.

I spend the rest of the night on the couch reading and drinking a few more beers. When I start to get a little tired, I grab the phone and dial a familiar number, one that I'll never admit to having memorized.

She picks up on the fourth ring. "Hey."

"Hey, it's me."

She lets out a laugh. "You're cute. I know it's you, Walt. I have your number in my phone."

"Oh… right. What are you doing?"

"Laundry."

I smile. "How very domestic of you."

"Shut up. What are you doing?"

"Reading."

She laughs. "Figures."

Now I laugh. "And drinking."

"Ahh, I see. Walt Longmire, this isn't a booty call is it?" She asks flirtatiously.

"No," I say through a laugh. "I was just calling to say hi before I went to bed."

She's silent for a few moments. "Hi."

I smile and lie back on the couch as I prop my feet up on the coffee table. "Hi."

"How was your dinner with Cady?"

"It was good. We had lasagna."

"Yum."

"Yeah, it's missing an ingredient though."

She laughs. "What do you mean it's missing an ingredient?"

"Well it's Martha's recipe. I follow it to a tee, but it never tastes as good as hers did."

She doesn't respond right away, and I wonder if I've made a mistake by bringing up Martha.

"I think she had a secret ingredient that she didn't tell anyone about."

She laughs. "Sneaky. I like her style. I'm sure yours still tasted fine, though."

"Yeah, it was okay. Cady could tell it tasted different, too. She said I should ask if your family knew any lasagna secrets."

"I was never very good in the kitchen. If I think of it, I'll ask my mom the next time I talk to her."

I laugh lightly. "Thanks."

"Hey Walt?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you wearing?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing, huh?"

"Nothing plus jeans and a t-shirt."

"Well there goes my fantasy."

I start to laugh but it turns into a yawn. It must be contagious because in a few seconds she yawns as well.

"I should probably head to bed, I had a big night last night."

"We both did."

I smile for a moment before I respond. "Yeah, you should probably get some sleep, too."

"I will, I'm heading there after I finish folding this last load of clothes."

"Okay, I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Vic."

"Walt?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for calling," she says sincerely.

"Thanks for answering."

She laughs. "Goodnight." She makes a kissing sound in the phone before hanging up.

It was definitely a good night. Not as good as last night, but it was a good night.