Niamh's smile when she opened the door to Addison was something she could have happily of carried around with her for weeks after. It was the look on her face, that look of pure openness and happiness, which was so different from Addison's own constantly guarded look that threw her. She seemed so genuinely happy that Addison was there. It was such a strange experience if Addison was going to be perfectly honest. Niamh practically dragged her into the Willis's den which was already set up with a huge bowl of popcorn and a stack of DVDs. While Niamh was setting up the first film Addison looked around the room noting several framed photos that adorned the walls.

"Nice photo." Addison remarked at the framed picture of Niamh and Dylan, both of them looking about thirteen years old, having a mock light sabre battle in a garden. Addison couldn't help but smirk when he noticed that Dylan was wearing a dressing gown in order to make himself look like a Jedi. The Dylan she had seen at school certainly didn't come across as a Star Wars fan at all.

"Yeah, that was taken when we lived with our grandparents a couple of years ago. The framing of it is all wrong but Leo had just gotten a new camera and had to take a picture of us. My gran found the whole thing really amusing though, I think she has a copy of that photo hung up in somewhere in their house." Niamh said. "Back when we were little, Leo wanted to be a photographer since then though he's decided that he wants to become a lawyer, I think that's mainly for peace of mind if Dylan's ever actually breaks the law and not just toe the line."

"He does seem like the toeing of the line type." Addison remarked absentmindedly.

"Funny, he said the same about you." Niamh said. Addison could feel heat creeping up her neck and she turned to look at a framed photo so Niamh couldn't see the blush spreading across her cheeks.

"So, did the red hair just skip your mom, Dylan and Leo?" Addison asked looking at a photo of Niamh, Dylan and Leo taken on Niamh's ninth birthday by the look of the half eaten cake, most of which was smeared on Leo's face.

"Huh?" Niamh asked absentmindedly. Addison looked pointedly at Niamh's red hair which had been pulled up off her face and into a messy bun. "Oh...oh."

"Oh?" Addison asked.

"I'm amazed Dylan didn't tell you, he normally likes to take the piss about it...not maliciously or anything like that obviously, he just likes to make jokes here and there about it." Niamh said. Seeing Addison's confused face she shrugged slightly. "I'm adopted. Our mom found out she couldn't have any more children after Leo was born so they adopted me when I was five." Niamh said. Addison tried, and failed, to hide her surprise at that revelation. She never would have guessed that Niamh was adopted. She seemed so much like the other Willis' and it was clear that both Leo and Dylan adored her.

"Oh...oh.." Addison said.

"They hit the jackpot with me" Niamh added nodding down at her Doctor Who t-shirt.

"Yes because every family needs the hard-core nerd." Addison said finding himself smirking. Niamh laughed loudly and threw a handful of popcorn at Addison as she shook her head.

"Hey, I've got some pretty big competition when it comes to Dylan; he's a bigger nerd than he would care to admit." Niamh said as she finished laughing.

"Hence the light sabre fight?"

"Hence the light sabre fight; you know he always did fancy himself as Han Solo when we were younger. It used to drive Leo up the wall." Niamh said with a small chuckle.

Despite her rule about not getting close to people Addison couldn't have helped accepting Niamh's invitation to come over to her house for a night of terrible sci-fi films and popcorn. Eleanor had seemed thrilled to see Addison again, smiling broadly when she had walked into the kitchen with Niamh. She had said that it was lovely to see her again and that made Addison wonder what her own house would be like if her mother was still around.

"You know, my mom adores you." Niamh muttered as Eleanor walked out the den after she had placed two bottles of soda in front of them.

"I really can't think why." Addison said shaking her head before reaching for her soda. Addison never did well with parents. After everything she had gone through with her own parents, she had found it hard to talk to them without sounding jaded. She just about managed to get Brigid's mother to like her but she knew Brigid's father thought Addison was a bad influence on Brigid.

"Oh please! After Dylan brought you home she couldn't stop asking about you and when you would next be round." Niamh said. "And that's not just because you're a girl that Dylan brought home, she really likes you."

"Really?" Addison asked because she found that very difficult to believe.

"Yeah. Hey, what's going on with you and my brother anyway? I thought you two were friends but he doesn't hang out with you that much."

"We're...we're more people who see each other in detention." Addison said shrugging. Niamh snorted with what sounded like disbelief.

"Dylan is not a people person at all. Sure he has a few friends, he's charming to girls and stuff like that but he's terrible with most people. I think it's to do with the general air of cockiness, but he asked you over to our house after two days of knowing you. That's pretty big for Dylan."

"He was doing me a favour more than anything Niamh." Addison said.

"You sure?" Niamh asked sceptically.

"Very much so." Addison said trying to sound convincing though by the look on Niamh's face she really didn't believe her. Addison really wished that people would stop looking at her like that. Instead of saying anything Niamh just threw several pieces of popcorn into her mouth and settled herself down back into the sofa

---

They were just starting on their third film when headlights from a car filled up the room for a moment before being switched off. Addison was sure she could hear the final verse from The Rain Song by Led Zeppelin being played loudly before that too was cut off.

"Hey! Is there anyone home?" a voice called out from the hallway as Addison heard the front door closed with a loud slam. It took a moment for Addison to realise it was Dylan's voice and she became incredibly confused when her pulse began to quicken. Addison should have realised it was Dylan from the music. What she couldn't understand was why her pulse had quickened, it was just like when Niamh had caused her to blush...it was not a good thing because she couldn't develop a crush on Dylan Willis of all people.

"We're in the den loser!" Niamh called back before taking a generous gulp of her soda. The casual way Niamh ribbed Dylan was actually rather amusing and a lot friendlier than the way Addison and her brother fought.

"Hey there ginger" Dylan said walking into the den and stopping with a surprised look on his face when he spotted Addison sat there next to Niamh. "Oh, hey there Addi" He said coughing slightly "I didn't know you were gonna be here...um what are you guys watching?"

"Wrath of Khan. Addison's been living under a rock and has never seen any of the Star Trek films so we're amending that right now." Niamh said.

"Wow, are you trying to ruin her life?" Dylan asked as he pulled off his leather jacket and placed it onto the nearest chair carefully. Considering the worn quality of the fabric Addison assumed it was one of those jackets you would just throw over a chair carelessly and yet that clearly wasn't the case. The way Dylan handled it you would think it was made of spun gold.

"Just because you cried like a child for an hour and forty minutes after watching this doesn't mean that Addison will. She's probably a lot more emotionally stable than you when it comes to this stuff." Niamh said smiling widely when she saw Dylan's face redden.

"I didn't cry." Dylan said though he didn't sound remotely convincing.

"You did cry and I have photographic proof." Niamh said.

"You couldn't have started her off with the remakes?" Dylan asked.

"Hell no. She has to appreciate Shatner before she can appreciate Pine. That's the rule." Niamh said.

"I had no say in the matter." Addison said to Dylan. Dylan grinned back at her.

"Doesn't surprise me at all." Dylan said. "Leo not here?"

"Nah, he's at a girl's house to do homework. Poppy something. He told me this morning but I can't remember what else he said. I swear, I listen to him but when he starts to talk about random stuff I tend to stop listening." Niamh said nonchalantly pausing the DVD to carry on her conversation with Dylan.

"Poppy Dawes?" Addison asked Niamh. Niamh shrugged her shoulders and glanced back at Dylan.

"Yeah that's her, do you know her?" Dylan asked.

"Sort of, Brigid tutors her and she's Molly Foster's younger step-sister." Addison explained. Dylan frowned slightly as if trying to remember who Molly was. "Long dark hair with a permanent sneer and is always in detention. She's the one who is hosting that huge party near the lake in a few weeks." Addison added hoping this would be a decent enough description of Molly.

"Oh...is Poppy anything like Molly?" Dylan asked warily. Molly's not so stellar reputation certainly preceded her.

"I don't really know Poppy that well so I can't tell you much about her, I've seen her at Molly's parties a few times but I've never really spoken to her that much. Brigid would be able to tell you more to be honest." Addison said.

"I think Leo has the hots for her." Dylan said smirking at Niamh.

"Yeah well even if he does then leave him alone about it! Remember when you teased him mercilessly about that girl Sarah?"

"Hey, that was funny!" Dylan said defensively.

"Um no, it was mean!" Niamh said. Dylan shrugged his shoulders while still smiling wickedly. Niamh rolled her eyes and turned back to Addison with an exasperated sigh. "Are you this mean to your brothers about girls?" She asked.

"Not really. My brother Aaron has been with his girlfriend for years. They're probably going to get married and everything. They're joined at the hip." Addison said.

"How many brothers do you have?" Niamh asked. Dylan looked from Addison to Niamh for a second with a confused expression seeing as Dylan knew how many brothers Addison had. Then again Dylan wasn't to know that Addison hated talking about her brothers apart from Aaron most of the time. Not talking about Eric or Mark was just easier in the long run.

"I have three brothers. Mark is permanently single and Eric is married to work." Addison explained to Niamh. Niamh let out a small smile and Addison caught Dylan's expression change from that of confusion to a bemused look.

"Do they live at home?"

"So far yeah. Aaron is probably going to move out when I leave. Mark's saving up to move out as well I think. Eric will probably be buried in the house." Addison said. She didn't need to tell Niamh or Dylan that the main reason her brothers had stayed at home was to keep an eye on her.

"So are you joining us or are you just going to sit there like a spare part?" Niamh asked Dylan.

"I wouldn't want to interrupt." Dylan said though it sounded sarcastic.

"No, you just don't want to cry again." Niamh said.

"He was and always would be Jim's friend ok!" Dylan retorted causing Niamh to chuckle loudly.

"Oh nut up Willis and sit down. Khan is about to launch into his maniacal and evil plan." Niamh said. Dylan sighed but sat down on the sofa but not before grabbing the bowl of popcorn from out of Niamh's hands. Niamh gave a sound of disbelief before pouting. That was until Dylan threw a handful of popcorn at her head.

Several piece of popcorn ended up falling onto Addison. Dylan shot Addison an apologetic look but instead of saying anything Addison threw one of the pieces of popcorn into her mouth. She smirked at Dylan, who stared back with a surprised look.

"If you cry, try to keep it quiet." Niamh shot at Dylan with a smirk and once again Dylan threw several handfuls of popcorn at Niamh. "Mom! Dylan's throwing popcorn!" Niamh yelled in the direction of the kitchen.

"You're a fucking child." Dylan sighed.

"It takes one to know one Willis." Niamh swiftly shot back before they settled into comfortable silence apart from when Niamh and Dylan felt like it was necessary to quote lines along with Captain Kirk and half of the other characters. Addison was actually surprised to find out that Dylan did a very good Chekov impression which managed to make Niamh snort soda out her nose. Then again there was something about watching a guy wearing an ACDC shirt saying 'Keptin Kirk' which made it almost impossible to not snort soda out your nose.