A loud noise was bothering her dream. Natalie tried to tune it out, but the sound kept on. It wasn't Alice crying, so she ignored it and went back to sleep.

"Natalie?"

She woke up then, recognizing the voice, and realizing the sound was someone knocking at the door. "Oh, god," she groaned, putting a hand to her face, then thought about throwing the pillow over her head. Eyes still closed, she reached out a hand to the other side of the bed, hoping Robert would deal with this. The other side of the bed was empty.

Damn you and your productive job, she cursed.

"Natalie, are you home? It's Dr. Skouras."

"I know that," she grumbled, "why do you think I'm not running to the door?"

He knocked again. Natalie opened her eyes finally, and glanced at the clock. Nine thirty.

"Damn it," she cursed, rolling out of bed, and grabbed her robe.

Tying the sash, she rubbed at her bleary eyes as she made her way half-blind to the front door. It was no small feat, considering how disoriented she was, and the fact that she found herself indeed in completely unfamiliar surroundings. She and Robert had been up till past midnight unpacking boxes, but the place still looked like a disaster area.

When she tripped over an errant box she swore, stumbled, and got to the door, finally.

Opening it she saw a far too cheery Skouras, looking like a school boy on Sunday. She squinted and blinked. Staring at him was like looking at the sun.

"What is it, Dr. Skouras?" She mumbled the words and only belatedly hoped he wouldn't think she was drunk.

Skouras' face showed embarrassment before his words did. "I'm sorry Natalie, I forgot about the time difference. You must be terribly jet-lagged."

Sorry enough to leave?

"But-"

Nope.

"I was wondering if you and Alice would like to join us in the community dining room for breakfast."

He was way too happy about this. Way too cheery. Natalie wondered if he didn't also manufacture some sort of drugs as well.

She was going to just say flat out no, then remembered Alice. Having a child had proven to be an awfully good excuse for things. If you wanted to go somewhere, you simply say you need to get something for your child. If you don't want to go somewhere, you say that your child is napping or sick.

How can I use Alice to get out of this?

Just then Alice came walking into the room like a groggy tettering drunk, or, as it happened, like a toddler who hadn't mastered walking, yawned, and stopped in surprise to see a strange man at the door. She looked at her mother, then at the man, made a dramatic groan of annoyance and placed her hand on her forehead as if she had a pounding headache. Natalie choked down laughter at Alice's comic display, then watched as she then walked towards her and threw her little body at their side of the door. To her happy surprise she realized that Alice was trying to close the door on Skouras, and that she was actively responding to Natalie's own thoughts of wanting the man gone.

As the door began to close on him, Natalie said apologetically, "Maybe we should try another time. I don't think Alice got enough sleep last night."

Dr. Skouras waved away the fake apology with a hand and nodded. "Of course," he answered, still smiling too damn much.

Before he could say another word, Alice slammed the door in his face. Shoving her fist in her mouth so she didn't laugh aloud, Natalie did nothing to stop her.

Alice laughed so hard she fell to the floor, tickled by her mother's internal laughter, if not understanding the reason for it.

Once Skouras had left, Natalie began to laugh, too. When she'd exhausted herself she sat on the carpeted floor in her robe and stared at Alice. It was true that having a baby that could read your mind did come in helpful, like when she wanted to sleep in, or when she wanted Alice to be quiet.

However, as Alice had grown older, she could read more than just simple emotions like exhaustion and joy. She'd just managed to come to her mother's rescue and do exactly what Natalie had wanted to do- slam the door in Skouras' face.

Looking at Alice, Natalie was already sure she was reading her mother's fear of her mind reading, and that Natalie was currently wondering about the damage her kid could do

Alice began to laugh the laugh of a maniacal evil cartoon villain, because that was what her mother was thinking about.

"Oh god Alice," Natalie spoke, "you're gonna be trouble."

Alice grinned in answer, her eyes shining with what Natalie swore was anticipation.