'Do you want some?' Hunter asked, gesturing to the packet of Razzles resting in his lap.

'Sure, thanks,' Veronica cupped her hands. He shook the packet vigorously and a few rolled out into her palm. In one swift move she plopped them into her mouth.

They sat on the couch, side by side, watching Sponge Bob Squarepants. She'd only been there twenty minutes and already witnessed four of Hunter's musical performance – and one magic show. The child prodigy had already done a number on Veronica. She was smitten with his electric blue eyes, his unruly sun-streaked hair, and tentative smile.

He'd been excited when he'd finally pulled back the Angry Birds wrapping paper to reveal the mini ukulele - She'd gone out early that morning to buy it.

You're getting soft.

'It's to add to your collection of instruments,' She'd added, shrugging a little.

He beamed and began strumming erratically on the strings, 'Thanks,'

She'd even noticed Lianne well up in tears at the sight of her two children together. It had been a long time coming, almost too long. There was part of Veronica that wanted to walk away, to remain angry, bitter even; but she fought against and instead tried her best to give her mother what she needed. Idealistic. Besides she was slowly getting attached to the kid.

She looked around at the drably decorated apartment, it was all Lianne could afford with financial strain of impending trials, and barely any savings. It had a muddy-orange kitchenette with drunkenly hung cupboard doors and a chrome dining table. The living room wasn't much better with wood paneling on the walls, speckled Innsbruck carpet, and a faded, lumpy floral couch. A painting of a dusk-lit river with mossy undergrowth hung proudly crooked on the wall. It was significantly smaller than the apartment her and Keith had shared in his post-sheriff days. The familiar sounds of belligerent sirens wafted in from the street below and dogs began to bark causing a cacophonous mess.

Fighting criminals, one assault at a time, she scoffed.

'How's Mom doing?'

'Hmm…' Hunter considered his answer carefully, 'She cries a lot,'

'She does, does she?' Veronica raised an eyebrow.

'Yeah, usually when she goes down to the Laundromat, she thinks I don't know,' He made a short roll of his eyes.

It was one of few opportune moments for Veronica to ask Hunter questions without Lianne's rather frantic interruptions. She'd gone across the street to the mini-mart; after much deliberation, she'd kissed Hunter goodbye, her final words of wisdom being,' Be good for Veronica, baby.'

'You know, she's just upset at the moment, Hunter. She loves you more than anything,'

'I know,' He looked down in his lap. She rubbed her hand lovingly along the top of his knee.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She felt herself fight a gleam when saw Logan's picture.

When I get back: You, me at six?

- L

'Who is that?' Hunter peered over her shoulder.

'Just my boyfriend, his name's Logan,' She typed back, barely looking up.

'Is he nice?' He looked at her almost sternly.

'Yeah,' She said, hitting send, 'Yeah, he's really nice,'

He furrowed his brows, 'But he doesn't come here?'

Talk about Harriet the Spy.

'Well…' She breathed, 'He's busy, he's away at the moment,'

'When's he coming home?'

'In a couple of days,'

'Can he come here with you next time?'

How about that, Veronica? Half an hour and the kid's already reeled you in.

'I don't know, Hunter, he may be busy; but I can ask,' She felt her face grow taut, 'Maybe, we can all go out to dinner next week,'

'Cool,' He grew bug-eyed.

Poor kid must feel like a flower in the attic.

The front door swung open and in came Lianne, wearily trying to navigate her way to the kitchen, with an overwhelming load of groceries.

'I am sorry I took so long, guys, there was a huge line,' She timidly stepped over Hunter's strewn instruments on the living room floor.

'It's fine, Mom,' Veronica said, as she helped unpacked the groceries.

She looked at her mother. Her face care-worn, her hair in a frizzy tangled mess, and her clothes completely tousled. She'd obviously not slept. The bags under her eyes were dark purple and deep like saucers.

'Did you have a nice chat?' Her expression remaining bleak.

'Yeah, I think we did,' Veronica looked over at Hunter and he winked back in agreement.

'That's good,'

'Mom, I was thinking maybe we could go out to dinner on Friday?'

'Oh, I don't know, Veronica,' She continued to move R2-D2-like around the crammed apartment.

'I just thought it would be-nice, you, me, Hunter….maybe, Logan,'

'Logan?' Her head shot up, instantaneously, 'Ohhh, sure, but I don't have-'

'It's fine, Mom, I can cover it,'

'Okay,' Her lips fell into a sad smile.

'So I'll see you Friday, then?'

'See you Friday,'

'Catch you later, Mozart, 'Veronica ran her hand through his sandy hair. She could feel her mother following her towards the door.

'Veronica?' She heard the timid, uncertainty in Lianne's voice and looked up 'Thanks for…' Lianne motioned to the little boy sitting on the gaudy couch.

'You're welcome,' She mouthed, stepping out the door.

It's water under the bridge, Mom, water under the bridge.