Stevie struggled to open the front door with her arms loaded down with groceries stuffed haphazardly into two large paper sacks. She didn't have the time, energy or motivation to pack them properly to distribute the weight evenly. She couldn't leave Robin and Lindsey alone with Summer for too long, even if it was to go to the grocery store. The two adults had been bickering like children for the past three days since Lindsey had moved in and needed more supervision then the five year old in the home. She leaned down, chewing her bottom lip in concentration as she tried to both balance the bag without spilling its contents and turn the knob . She used her knee to steady the bottom of the wobbling groceries as she extended her hand, giving the door handle a second try as she had been unsuccessful the first time. Finally, she thought as she felt the tension increase in the knob, lowering her leg and thrusting herself inside all in one swift motion. The door slammed shut accidentally and Stevie winced. Now, she had to finagle her way through the house. She dreaded having to walk the straight but often treacherous path from the entry way, to the living room and into the kitchen. Toy avoidance marred up what would be an otherwise simple task. This time she had the added responsibility of getting there without dropping the copious amounts of boxed food Lindsey had requested in nearly-indecipherable chicken scratch that morning.

"Jeez," she said under her breath. "I'm home!" She called out, her purse falling off her shoulder and down into the crook of her elbow. It fell with such a force from the weight that it threatened to dislodge one of the bags from her arm and she grunted to accommodate the change. "Rob, Linds! Can one of you help me?" Her fingers were beginning to lose strength, unable to grip the brown paper much longer. "Robin! Lindsey! Dammit." She hurried through the living room, stepping on a drying watercolor painting Summer had left out. It stuck to the bottom of her boot and she tried to kick it off. It wouldn't let up, clinging to the tread of her sole. She put her foot down and slid, the paper creating ice like friction against the hardwood. She hobbled on her heel, stumbling toward the counter top to lay the bags down. One toppled over onto its side and a couple of loose oranges rolled across the flat surface. She caught them each before they hit the tile then stuck them in the fruit basket in the middle of the kitchen table. She reached down to carefully remove the damp art piece from her shoe, bracing herself on the counter. It peeled off like Velcro and Stevie instantly felt bad. She had ruined it and she knew Summer would be heartbroken.

"I'm sorry, baby girl," she said aloud, frowning. Placing the paper on the table, she started digging through the bags for a quick snack. She hadn't eaten breakfast and it was right about lunch time. Her stomach growled as she opened a box of cracker jacks. "This will have to do." She dumped out a few kernels of caramel corn and popped them into her mouth. She laid the box down and dusted off her hands. She sorted the items, not many thoughts passing through beyond where she would store Lindsey's food and how he could live on the food he had asked for. The house didn't have much cabinet space to speak of, so she had her work cut out for her. Butterscotch pudding, carnation breakfast bars which looked more like candy that a nutritious meal, powdered milk, boxed Mac and cheese and Cookie Crisp cereal now had a home in her cabinets. She stared at the box with a sugar-high wizard on the front and cringed. She was no health nut but she knew Summer would want the sugary breakfast food. Before, Stevie could simply tell her they had other cereals and breakfast options available. Distraction was the best way to get Summer to focus on something else. The first time her little girl had seen the commercial, her eyes lit up. How she hated marketing aimed at children; there's enough targeting adults. Stevie sighed, raising up on her top toes to put the box in the cabinet. As she came back down, she felt someone behind her. Arms wrapped around her waist and she smiled.

"Are you going to help me put all this away?" Stevie asked and Lindsey nodded against her skin, kissing her neck. She turned around and smiled brightly. "Where were you when I came in? I could have used your help."

"I must have fallen asleep. Last thing I remember is Summer and I laying on the couch together, watching Sesame Street."

"I see," Stevie nodded and Lindsey gave her a look. She was hiding something, he could tell.

"What?" he asked, putting his hands on his hips.

"Nothing. I just can't take my eyes off your beautiful face." Her big dark eyes scanned his features, noticing the bright pink blush and the dark, deliberate blue and purple circles around his eyes. It was obviously the work of Summer. She giggled, moving back toward the counter to clear the fresh fruit and veggies. She refolded the paper bags and put them under the sink for later use. She hated to throw them away if they weren't torn, wet or stained. At the very least, they could be used for an art project with Summer.

"Beautiful?" Lindsey asked, still confused.

Stevie looked back over her shoulder, smiling in that same, sweet way. "Uh-huh."

He rubbed his eyes, and Stevie burst into giggles, unable to contain them anymore. Lindsey looked down at his hand. His knuckles were purple and blue.

"What the—?" He groaned, trying to wipe it off his face but he only spread the colors around. There were finger streaks down his nose and cheeks.

"Eyeshadow," Stevie answered, trying to hide her amusement. "I have make up remover in the bathroom cabinet."

"Do you get off on my embarrassment or something?" he asked and she shook her head, biting her lip. "You're smiling."

"No I'm not," she told him. "I'm simply observing."

"I don't need an audience." He wiped his face again, swearing it even more. "Ick, is that lipstick?" he groaned, looking at the slimy, shimmery peach color on the back of his hand.

"I believe so." Stevie giggled briefly, biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself once again. The whole scene before her was quite humorous. "It's a nice color on you."

"Ha-ha," he replied, dryly. "Just, just get me the makeup remover. I don't want Robin seeing me this way."

"Trying to impress her? Got the hots for my best friend?"

His blue grey eyes suddenly became rather icy. "No, Stevie, I don't. Ugh! That's the last time I fall asleep with Summer around. What's next? Will she put my hair in bows or paint my nails?"

"I wouldn't put it past her." Stevie shook her head. "Stop messing with it, I will be right back."

"Promise?" he asked pitifully, covered in cosmetics of the trusted variety. Stevie went upstairs to fetch her supplies and Lindsey slinked over to the toaster, lifting it up to look at himself. He was a downright mess. "I least I only have one girl. If I had more, they'd probably gang up on me or something, tie me down like the Lilliputians did to Gulliver." He chuffed out a laugh. He hated being covered in shiny goop but a part of him was proud to have the chance to be a father to his little girl. He had missed almost five full years of her life.

"I'm back!" Stevie said, holding up the bottle of light pink liquid.

"What's that?" he asked.

"Makeup remover. Is it not good enough for you? Do you prefer a different brand?"

"No, I just didn't think it would be pink."

"Some are pink, some are blue. I don't know why." Stevie motioned for him to sit at the table. "I peeked into Summer's room. She's asleep on the floor surrounded by her dolls."

The mental image warmed his heart, distracting him from the cold liquid being applied to his face with a cotton pad. "Despite the comments form Robin, the makeup and the embarrassment we endured when we were trying to..." Lindsey cleared his throat. "Be intimate, I have had a lot of fun here so far. Thank you for taking me in when I had no place to go."

"It wasn't a question. You're welcome here." Stevie told him, her lips curling into a smile. "I'm happy to have you."

"Are you?"

"Well, you do snore, and hog the bed. You're loud and you eat everything in sight but yes, I'm very happy to have you."

He chuckled, smoothing her side. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. You're all done," she announced.

"Thank you, again."

"It's no problem." Lindsey got up and looking at himself in the toaster again. "Don't worry, you are handsome as ever."

He turned, flashing a shy smile. "Thanks, but um..."

"Yes?" Stevie asked, throwing away the soiled refuse.

"When will my face stop smelling like roses?"

She giggled. "That will go away shortly. Until then, think of it as perfume." Stevie walked out of the room to take off her boots, leaving the food on the counter, sorted into piles. Lindsey raised his arms but let them drop to his sides with a slap.

"Men don't wear perfume," he said. "And what am I supposed to do with this stuff?"

"You could put it away like you said you would," Stevie said, batting her eyelashes as she clung onto the doorframe. She slid her foot along the strip of wood on the floor that separated the hardwood from the tile in her stocking covered feet.

"But where?"

"You'll figure it out. If you need me, I'm going to be upstairs taking a bath to unwind."

"Okay," he replied, wondering what canned creamed corn, a box of pasta and a bag of marshmallows had to do with each other in one pile while a bag of rice and a jar of pimento stuffed green olives were in another. He looked around the kitchen, not sure what any of the cabinets held other than the one near the sink he knew to be mugs for coffee and tea. Oh, and the drawer that held silverware. He knew that one too. "Oh god!" he said, smacking his hand to his forehead. "Steph?" he called out. "Honey...I need you!" He sighed, knowing she was probably up to her shoulders in luxurious bubbles by now. He would just have to figure it out on his own.