Lee was put to work by Caesar in the kitchen because Gunner was notorious for eating more than he prepared, Toll took too long, and Barney was running the barbecue. Tia was watching the kids and given the night off of cooking and cleaning, so Emily offered to help.

"Are you afraid I don't know how to rip up lettuce properly?" Lee asked, teasing, as she went to stand next to him. He was currently washing it.

"Just a little," she said, entertaining his joke. "I mean, what if we don't all get equal pieces?"

"That would be catastrophic."

"I'd definitely notice," she said, resting her elbow on the counter and her hand on her chin. He gave a slight chuckle before flicking water from his fingers at her face. She exclaimed and gave him a shove. He barely moved, so she tried again, making him set down the lettuce and grab her wrists and playfully push her into the corner of the counter.

"Look it here, you," he said as she started to laugh and squirmed to get away from him. "I'm not your personal punching bag."

"Oh no?" she asked, still trying to get out of his grasp. He moved her arms so that they were against her chest, and he was pressing into her with his body.

"No," he confirmed.

"I think you secretly like it," she insisted, her face close to his.

"Maybe," he replied, searching her eyes with his. She rested her hands against his chest after he let her wrists go, and he ran a hand up her side until he was holding her face gently. She let him rest his forehead against hers and closed her eyes. He was working up the nerve to kiss her when the sound of feet on the deck interrupted them.

"Mum!" Maya called. Lee stepped away from Emily and went back to work as the little girl made her way inside. "Caesar sent me to see if you were done yet."

"Not quite," Emily answered, her voice sounding a little strained.

"He said no dallying," Maya added.

"Tell him he'll have to sleep with one eye open if he continues to harass me," Lee told her.

"Okay," Maya said with a giggle. She went back out, leaving Lee and Emily alone again. He dared to look at her, and she was looking flustered.

"We can't," she said after finally meeting his eyes.

"You keep saying that," he noted, "yet you keep sending me mixed signals."

"I know. I'm sorry," she said, reaching to grip her hair in her hands.

"Hey," Barney said, opening the back door suddenly and startling them both. "I'm almost done out here. Caesar is breathing down my neck about the meat being done before the salad. It's a whole thing. You about done?"

"He's gonna get stabbed if he keeps it up," Lee warned.

"We'll have it ready ASAP," Emily promised, moving to cut things up alongside Lee. Barney gave a grunt and shut the door, ambling back to the barbecue.

"Geez Murphy," Lee muttered.

"Your friend is a bit anal about food, isn't he?"

"More than anal," Lee retorted. Their arms kept touching as they worked, and he did his best to ignore the jolts it kept sending him. She didn't continue their conversation, and he kept thinking of ways to bring it up but didn't feel brave enough to. Who wanted to hear reasons why you weren't liked back by the person you were slowly getting to be crazy about?

At one point, she reached for something one way when he reached for something the other way, and they almost banged their heads together.

"Sorry!" she exclaimed, moving back. He stopped her, finally having enough of the tension, and he gripped her face with his hands. Her fingers wrapped around his wrists.

"Lee," she said, her voice trembling as he held his face close to hers.

"Do you want me to or not?" he asked. "Yes or no. Make a decision."

"I...I don't know..." she confessed.

"That really doesn't help me here," he pointed out.

"I'm sorry. I...I just..."

"You just what?" he asked.

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"Of me?"

"No. Of what could happen to Maya if...if we don't..." She didn't finish the sentence, but he understood. If they didn't work out, Maya would experience the most pain afterwards.

"What if we do?" he asked after a moment. She didn't say anything, but she did keep looking at him intensely while flicking her eyes to his mouth more than once. He took that to mean she wanted to at least try. He moved slow, feeling shaky inside from the anticipation and hearing her breath give away hers. He just barely grazed her lips with his when Caesar interrupted.

"We're all wai-..." He stopped abruptly, and Lee turned his head to give him a murderous look. "Right. Um, just take your time then." Caesar backed out quickly, and Lee turned to look back at Emily. She was still holding his wrists.

"Lee," she said quietly. "I can't do a summer fling, even if we momentarily fool ourselves into thinking it'll be more than that. I just...I can't. I'm sorry. No more wavering. This is my final decision."

As much as it pained him, he knew she was right. Once they went their separate ways, they'd never see each other again. She still had no idea he really lived in New Orleans and was a mercenary. Who was he kidding? This wouldn't work. While it felt very real and possible right now in this moment, it wasn't going to last long outside of this moment. He needed to wake up.

"Right," he sighed. "I'm sorry. I just...I lose myself when I'm around you." He let go of her face, and she let go of his wrists. He leaned on the counter with his hands while she leaned against it with her hip.

"Maybe we shouldn't spend so much time together then," she suggested.

"I can rein it in," he promised. "I can."

She pressed her lips together, looking doubtful. They didn't say anything until tapping at the glass started. Lee looked over his shoulder to see Caesar's hand and nothing else in the window. Coward.

"Alright," he said, sighing. "Friends?" He looked back at her.

"Friends," she agreed. He gave a tight smile and grabbed the bowl before heading outside with it.

"Sorry, man," Caesar said upon seeing him. "I, uh, kind of overheard. You okay?"

"No," Lee answered. "But I have to be." He walked over to where Barney had put the outside picnic table on the grass and set the bowl down on it. Emily came to sit beside Maya after a moment and avoided looking at him. He knew he shouldn't have tried kissing her. She wasn't ready, and now he'd scared her off for good. He blew it, and now he had to work to get over her.

He'd keep his promise. He'd rein it in. He could do that.

No sweat.

...

Fred put out his cigarette as the figure came towards him from the shadows. Serena was in the car waiting, oblivious to what he was doing. He'd told her he making a phone call for work, which wasn't an entire lie, really.

"Freddy," the man said, stepping into the light. He had a scar down his neck on the left side, and his black hair was spiked.

"Sergei," Fred said back. They shook hands.

"You got my stuff?"

"It's waiting for you to say the word."

"Soon...two weeks," Sergei said. "I'll contact you closer to the date for a time and place."

"Okay."

"Are they going to be a problem?" Sergei asked.

"The Expendables? No," Fred replied. "They aren't going to be a problem."

"You can handle it?"

"If I need backup, I will let you know."

"Think they've figured out who you are yet?" Sergei inquired.

"Hard to say, but I'll be long gone before they can do something about it," Fred scoffed. "Don't worry about them. I'll take care of it."

"Okay. I trust you."

They shook hands again, and Fred walked back to the car. Serena smiled at him when he got in.

"Everything okay?" she asked.

"Just fine," he answered. He reached to put his hand on her leg possessively, and he started to drive.

...

Toll was in the backyard with Louis and Maya, a jar in his hands. Louis was wearing a very serious expression on his face as he carefully followed a firefly. Maya was watching. After a moment, Louis thrust out his hands in the direction of the insect, but he missed.

"Rats!" he exclaimed. "They're hard to get!"

"Don't I know it," Toll agreed, finding one himself and sneaking up on it with his jar. He caught it expertly and screwed the lid shut. He'd already poked holes in it so it could breathe. Both kids marveled at him and came to see it. He let Maya hold the jar and hold it up to her eyes.

"It's so cool," Louis said, his head next to hers as he looked too. Toll smiled before looking over his shoulder to see Caesar and Tia sneaking off on one of the trails. He chuckled to himself, happy to see them behaving like teenagers again.

"Come on, guys," Toll said. "Let's try and catch another." He sauntered after them as they ran forward, chasing another firefly that had just shown up. It was summer nights like this one that made him think of his childhood, and listening to Louis and Maya's shared laughter and giggles...well, it made him smile.

It was enough to temporarily make him stop thinking about Serena and whether or not she was okay.

...

"Hale, what are you doing?" Tia whispered as they crept out onto a dock of an empty cottage. Caesar was shedding his clothes as he walked to the end. "Hale!"

"What does it look like?" he asked her, turning to look at her before hopping off into the water and creating a hearty splash. No one was at any cottage at the back of the island it seemed. Barney's friends were on the side, but they couldn't see them. Tia put a hand over her mouth as the final pieces of Caesar's clothes came flying onto the dock.

"You're crazy," she said, feeling like she was seventeen all over again.

"Come on, live a little," Caesar instructed, treading water. "It's dark. No one can see us."
Tia looked around again for good measure before stripping to her bra and underpants. She carefully climbed down the ladder into the water and removed the rest of it. She felt like such a dare devil and started to giggle.

"Tag, you're it," Caesar said, reaching to tap her shoulder hard and then swimming away.

"Oh, you get back here, boy!" she exclaimed, chasing after him. Once she caught up to him, it was like they were newlyweds all over again, and she felt so warm inside. This was her Hale back. She just hoped she wouldn't lose him again when they returned home.

...

"I need to know the rules," Lee said, making Emily look at him. They were the only ones at the fire pit because Toll was still catching fireflies with the kids and Barney was on the phone with Tool. She had a sneaking suspicion Tia and Caesar had run off for some alone time since Louis was occupied.

"What rules?" she asked.

"Of this friendship," he answered. "What is allowed and not allowed."

"Have you never had friends before?" she asked, teasing.

"Not really with a girl," Lee answered. "So, tell me what I'm allowed to do."

"You're so weird," she said with a laugh, reaching with her stick to poke the coals. He put his hand on hers and made her look at him again.

"I'm serious," he said. "Am I allowed to touch you at all, or is that off limits?"

"How often do you touch Barney?" she asked, raising a brow.

"Fist bumps and side hugs it is," Lee answered.

"Look," she said, facing him now. "Do what you're doing, but just don't try to kiss me or have sex with me, okay?"

"Okay," he answered. "I can do that."

"Good."

"Mum!" Maya called, hurrying towards them. "We caught six fireflies!"

"Great job," Emily praised, reaching to smooth Maya's hair as her daughter held up the jar so she could see.

"We're gonna do marshmallows now," Maya said eagerly.

"Oh, you mean these?" Lee asked, holding up the bag. "You'll have to fight me to get one. I'm very hungry right now."

Emily did her very best not to laugh as he popped one into his mouth with his eyes wide and eyebrows raised, making Maya gape at him in shock for a second before she set down her jar and then promptly tackled Lee by jumping on his back. He was laughing and fending her off as she tried to wrestle the bag from him. Emily rested her chin on her hand as she continued to watch Lee interact with her daughter. He was a natural, which surprised her in some ways and not in others.

Louis jumped into the fray, now, after catching on that his snack was in danger, and both kids knocked Lee backwards onto the ground while he laughed and hugged the marshmallow bag tightly against his chest. Emily felt like all other sounds and images just faded away as she watched this moment, and she wondered if she was crazy for keeping a man like him out of her heart. She started to fantasize about what it would be like to wake up with him every day and have him raise Maya with her. Oh God, she was wavering again.

"Mum! Help!" Maya called, shrieking with laughter. Emily blinked, getting brought back to the scene before her. She got to her feet and knelt down over Lee, who was almost crying from laughing now.

"Hey, no cheating!" he cried as Emily reached to pry his arms apart. He was very strong, she'd give him that.

"Get it, Mum!" Maya was shouting and bouncing up and down. "Get it!"

"You're a tough bugger, aren't you?" Emily asked Lee, still working on prying his arms apart.

"Did I mention that's my third middle name?" he joked.

"How many bloody middle names to you have?" she questioned, still wrestling with him.

"Lots."

"Come on, Mum!" Maya called, still bouncing around them.

"I think you're in way over your head," Lee told Emily. "You should walk away before you embarrass yourself."

"Oh, really?" she asked, reaching to pinch his sides hard. He jerked but didn't make a sound. She shrieked when he flipped her over onto her back with him on top of her.

"Most definitely, friend," he said in her ear, his lips grazing her cheek. Then he was off and running with Louis and Maya chasing after him, still trying to get their treat from him. Emily sat up, feeling flushed all over. She caught sight of Toll watching her then. She'd forgotten he was even standing there.

"What?" she asked.

"I haven't seen Lee laugh like this in a very long time," Toll replied. "You're really good for him, Emily."

She didn't know what to say to that. Barney came back and leaned over Toll's shoulder to tell him something privately, and Toll nodded. Lee came back with each kid under his arm. Maya was holding the marshmallow bag.

"Alright," he said. "I think they earned it." He set them down, and Toll handed them both sharpened sticks.

"Okay, so you have to put it here like this," Louis said, showing Maya where the best spot over the fire was to roast the marshmallow. Emily was still sitting on the ground where Lee had left her, and he noticed before long and went to offer his hand to pull her up. She held onto his hand a beat longer than usual, and she rested a hand on his chest. His back was to Maya, so she couldn't see. Emily wouldn't have done it otherwise.

"Maybe you'll change my mind," she said to him.

"About what?" he asked.

"You're really going to make me say it?"

"Yes, I am," he answered, a smile on his lips.

"About you and me," she said after a moment, growing serious. "Maybe you'll change my mind yet."

"Why do I have to do all the hard work?" he asked, teasing. She felt him hook a finger around the front belt loop on her shorts and pull her in a bit closer. It was sending shivers all throughout her body.

"Because maybe I'm worth it," she said. She wasn't normally this bold, this confident. Something was happening to her when she was around him, and she didn't know what to do with it. It scared her.

"Damn right you are," Lee replied.

"I think you might be worth it too," she added. She couldn't read his expression after that, but he did reach to touch her cheek gently before Maya called for her to see how well she'd roasted her marshmallow. Lee let Emily go, and she went to sit back on her log and marvel at Maya's job well done, earning a beaming smile from her daughter in return. Lee sat next to her after a moment, and she felt his leg rest against hers. It made her smile. Barney and Toll were competing in how many marshmallows they could stuff into their mouths while Louis and Maya cheered them on. Caesar and Tia eventually returned, holding hands and looking slightly giddy. It was only then that she noticed Gunner was not there and hadn't been there for a while. She felt surprised and was about to ask Lee about him when he showed up from the cottage.

"Sorry," he said. "I fell asleep."

"Big shock," Lee said sarcastically.

"Hey, hook me up with one of those," Gunner said, gesturing to a stick. Toll tossed him one and a marshmallow, and then he was being shown by Louis and Maya how to do it properly. After a bit, Emily was shivering from the chilly night air. Lee got up and went inside before coming back with a hoodie, and he offered it to her. She felt surprised that he'd even noticed she was cold. She slipped it on, instantly smelling him, and it made her feel relaxed.

After a while, she knew it was well past Maya's bedtime. She caught her daughter as she walked past and pulled her into a bear hug.

"I know you're having a lot of fun, but it is bedtime," she told her. "Okay?"

"Awww. Okay," Maya said reluctantly.

"You can see Louis again tomorrow."

"Really?"

"Of course. Now, go say good night." Emily released her, and Maya did her rounds of saying good night and got hugs from everyone. Emily noticed something in Barney's eyes as he received his hug. It was almost like sadness.

"Yea, we should get you to bed too," Caesar agreed, snagging Louis before he could scamper off for another marshmallow. "Although I doubt you'll sleep."

"I'm too hyper," Louis agreed seriously.

"We'll see about that," Caesar said, tickling him. Louis shrieked with laughter. They said their good nights too and walked over to their cottage. Emily stood up. Maya was latched onto Lee, having saved him for last to hug.

"Can I get a ride?" she asked him hopefully.

"Maya," Emily started, but Lee was already standing up and suddenly holding her upside down, making her giggle and laugh.

"I dunno," he said, swinging her back and forth. "I might not have the energy. I might drop you before I get there."

"No!" Maya cried, laughing.

"Alright," he said, turning her around and letting her climb onto his back. "Hold on." Maya wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed her legs into his sides as he walked beside Emily towards her cottage. No one was outside, thankfully. Emily went up the deck steps and slid open the door. Lee knelt down so Maya could hop off.

"Sleep well, eh?" he said to her, holding out his hand. She smacked it with hers in a low five and grinned.

"You too," she said back, going inside.

"Teeth, pajamas, bed," Emily instructed, and Maya nodded while walking to the stairs and climbing up them. She caught sight of Ethan coming around from the kitchen and moved her and Lee out of sight to the side of the building to avoid him interfering.

"Keep it," he said when she started to take off his hoodie.

"No, it's okay..."

"Seriously, it's fine. I have lots," he said. She let go and felt it drop down, renewing the warmth against her.

"Is this some cheesy thing you're doing?" she asked. "You're hoping that if I have an article of your clothing that I'll pretend you're holding me or something?"

"Not at all," he answered, but he was smiling.

"Good night, Lee," she said moving to head for the door. He caught her by the pocket of the hoodie and pulled her back into him.

"What are you doing?" she asked as he slid his arms around her and held her close to him. He said nothing as he put a hand on her face, holding half of her jaw and half of her neck with it. She looked into his eyes before instinct took over and made her close them. She could feel his mouth hovering close to hers, but instead of actually kissing her, he just almost kissed her for a moment, his fingers lightly touching her cheek and trailing down to her jaw as she felt his breath against her skin and the slightest brush of his lips across hers. Emily felt very weak in the knees suddenly, and he eventually kissed the side of her temple lightly before letting her go and stepping back.

"Goodnight, Em," he said, going down the steps and walking away in the darkness. She stood there feeling speechless when she remembered Maya. She found her tucked under her blankets, almost asleep.

"Love you," she murmured as Emily kissed her forehead.

"Love you too," Emily replied softly. She did her bedtime routine next, leaving Lee's hoodie on when she climbed into bed. She was thankful Ethan hadn't said anything to her and that Fred and Serena were not fighting tonight.

It was officially one of her favorite nights, and she knew she'd cherish it forever.

...

"Well?" Barney asked once Emily was gone and it was just him, Toll, and Gunner left at the fire.

"It's up," Gunner replied quietly. He'd been installing a camera by the guns and not actually sleeping like he'd said.

"Good."

"What did Tool say?" Toll asked.

"He hasn't heard of any gun shipments happening, but he's keeping his ear to the ground," Barney answered. "If he finds anything out, he'll call us immediately."

"Alright, so we wait," Toll said, sighing.

"Yea."

It was all they could do. Barney hoped for an easy end to this, but he had a feeling something big was going to happen and soon. He couldn't explain it.

"Hey, Toll," Gunner said.

"What?"

"Wanna try and get a catfish?"

"Hell, yea!" Toll exclaimed, getting to his feet. They both disappeared down to the dock, and Barney was left by the fire. Lee eventually returned and sat across from him, resting his elbows on his knees. He folded his hands next and looked thoughtful.

"Do you know what you're doing?" Barney asked him.

"Yea."

"Just be sure you can handle the heartbreak after," Barney warned.

"She's different, Barns," Lee said, a goofy smile coming on his lips now. "She's really different. I can see it going the whole distance."

"Well, I'll try to be happy for you."

"Thanks." Lee's tone was slightly sarcastic now.

"Ohhh that's uuuuuuuuu-ga-lee!" Toll exclaimed, and they turned to see Gunner holding up a catfish and grinning.

"Beer?" Barney asked Lee, looking back at him.

"Sure."

He went up to get some before heading to the laptop on the table, and he pulled up the camera Gunner had installed earlier. He saw Fred checking on the box of guns before closing it and covering it again. Barney sighed. Whatever was going to go down, he hoped it was over with soon.

As he sat there, all he could suddenly think about was Maya's hug. He hadn't been hugged by a child in a very long time. He was finding himself growing attached to her, and he wasn't sure what that meant entirely...or if it was a good thing.

But he did know that he wouldn't let anything happen to her. Over his dead body.

...

Toll was still out doing some late night casting when he heard footsteps approaching. He turned to see Serena walking towards him in shorts and a sweater, her hands tucked into the pockets of it.

"Hey," she said with a smile.

"Hey," he said back, surprised. The glow of the light overhead illuminated her in a complimentary way. "What are you doing out and about this late?"

"Oh, just couldn't sleep," Serena answered, stopping a few feet away from him. "I saw the light and thought I'd investigate."

"Right. Well, I'm just, uh, fishing," Toll said, looking at his rod to help remember what he was doing.

"Any luck?"

"Some catfish."

"Ew," Serena said, wrinkling her nose, but she still had a small smile on her lips.

"Not a fan, huh?"

"Not really, but don't let me stop you." She gestured, and he smiled before casting again. He wondered what she was doing there. He didn't want to scare her off with too many questions, but he also needed to know if she was alright.

"Is everything okay over there?" he asked casually, reeling in slowly and waiting for her response. She shifted on her feet a little.

"For now," she replied.

"Does he know you're over here?"

"No."

Toll looked at her and wondered if she wanted to tell him something. He didn't see any new marks on her that indicated she'd gotten hurt recently.

"So how am I going to show you that I'm better?" he asked, deciding to go that route instead.

"I don't know," she replied, tilting her head at him. "I'm leaving that up to you."

Toll was about to say something smart when his line tugged. He looked to see the end of his pole getting bent, and he knew he had a fish on.

"Here we go," he said, starting to reel it in. It was putting up a fight. Then he got an idea. "You wanna do it?"

"Me?" Serena asked, surprised.

"Yea," he confirmed. "Have you ever reeled in a fish before?"

"Actually, no," she advised. "Is it hard?"

"Not really. I'm here to help too." He offered her the rod, and she took it gingerly.

"Oh," she said, startled as the line squealed from being pulled. "Is it supposed to do that?"

"Yea. He's taking some line. That's alright," Toll explained. "Pull up and then move it down as you reel it in." She did what he instructed, and then she was laughing as the fish kept yanking out more line on her.

"This is hard," she commented. Toll didn't even think as he went to stand behind her to give her support as she continued to reel in. She smelled amazing, and she was warm against him.

"Almost, almost," he said, laughing as she struggled to reel. He was starting to wonder what he'd caught when it finally broke the surface.

"Ewwwww!" she cried, seeing it.

"Wow, that's a monster," Toll stated, going to pull the large catfish out of the lake.

"Oh, ew, ew, ew," Serena kept saying as she moved out of the way. Toll chuckled and worked to pull his hook out before holding the fish up. She held her hands up. "Keep it away from me!"

"You don't wanna hold it?" he teased.

"Absolutely not," she said firmly. He smirked and moved to put it back. He got splashed by the fish in doing so. When he stood up, he turned to see Serena peeking at him through her hand.

"Is it gone?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Good." She uncovered her eyes, and for a moment, they just looked at each other. Toll had the greatest urge to pull her into his arms and hold her, even if to just show her she was safe with him.

"Wanna go again?" he inquired, picking up his pole.

"No," she answered. "I think I've had enough fishing for tonight."

"Fair enough."

"I should get back, but thank you," she added, smiling. "This was fun."

"Anytime," he said back. He hoped she knew he meant it. "And if you need us, we are here. Okay?"

"Thank you." She smiled again and turned to walk away. The darkness swallowed her moments later. Toll turned to cast again, getting lost in his thoughts.

...

She tried not to feel afraid, for she knew if she really needed it, help was there. The men next door wouldn't let her get hurt, she was sure of it. He'd told her so. She didn't know how to tell them the truth. She didn't know if she should. Maybe they'd already guessed it, or maybe they hadn't. She didn't know, and she wasn't about to spell it all out for them. For now, she just took comfort in knowing that if her life was in danger, they'd definitely come to her rescue.

And that's what helped her sleep at night.