It wasn't easy getting Hannah out of the house. Travis once again answered the door, frowning when he saw the two smaller men standing outside. Both had cigarettes, and boots on for the rain, despite its cease the evening before. The sun was out, a slight wind picking up. Neither brother was thrilled to see the man, but Malcolm smiled anyway. "Travis," he greeted.

"Malcolm," Travis answered. "Angus."

"Travis," Angus said. The three of them stood there in an awkward silence. Malcolm cleared his throat.

"Hannah there?"

"Writing for the local newspaper inside," Travis sneered and straightened his shoulders. "She's getting paid a real wad, just for some article."

"Would she be willing to take a break today?" Malcolm asked.

"Is this why you came back with us?" The wooden frame supported his weight as he leaned against it, hands in his pockets. "To conjure up little playdates every day?"

"You just can't get rid of us, can you, Travis?" Angus finally grinned. Rolling his eyes, the tall man called Hannah down and she was there in a minute. Her sweater was covered by a smock splattered in paint, a pencil behind her ear. Angus felt the pull on his heart. He didn't mind it this time.

"Your little friends are here," Travis announced. "And since neither one have a paper or a tennis ball in their mouths I assume they're here to see you." He laughed at his own joke while Angus grabbed Hannah's hand and pulled her aside.

They stood on the porch steps with Malcolm joining them, the man taking a few drags. Hannah's warm smile turned into a warmer hug, Angus eager to return it. "The paint is dry," Hannah said into his shoulder. "It's been that way for years."

"I think you look lovely," he said. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he might have meant to say it looked lovely, the smock in all its rainbow glory. But he didn't bother to correct himself. He didn't want to. They separated and Angus looked down at himself. "Don't mind a bit of paint anyway," he said. "if it's colorful."

"Malcolm!" Hannah turned around and made her way into his arms. He accepted her after taking the cigarette from his mouth into one hand and holding it away from her. "Glad you could come," she said.

"Wouldn't miss you for a tank of beer," he answered. "Would have brought one with me but Angus couldn't carry it." Angus sighed while the other two laughed at him.

"Don't you have a cigarette to puff?" Angus asked as the two pulled apart. Malcolm ruffled her hair and took a step back.

"Be glad to." His cigarette was placed back in his mouth when Travis cleared his throat at an almost concerning volume. "Are we, uh...interrupting somethin'?"

"Nothing of mine no, just figured Hannah would want to get back to work on her writing."

"I can take a break, Travis, and I'm perfectly fine with it," Hannah said turning to face him. Something in her attitude toward him darkened since Angus saw her for the first time at her new place. She didn't smile at him like she used to. Angus was ready to take her away from the house for good if his emotionally hurtful vocabulary had anything to do with it. He wouldn't dare take Hannah away from her work space however, if she couldn't bear to leave it behind. Not with that ring still clinging to her finger anyway. "The paper gave me a week to finish it, one day won't set me back."

Travis sighed and raised his hands. "If they don't like the effort you're not putting in to it, don't blame it on me," he said stepping away from the door to allow her access.

"Wouldn't dream of it," she mumbled entering the house. A second later she turned around. "Let me get changed, yeah?"

"Take your time," Malcolm answered before Angus could. She let the door hang open behind her while Travis moved to stand in front of it. It bothered Angus that he wore his shirt with the top button undone. It shouldn't have, but it did. It bothered him that his nice shoes were a light brown showing off all the mud he had acquired the day before. He'd have made a comment had the man himself not been standing there. He practically sucked on his cigarette as Malcolm broke the quiet. "So, have any plans yourself today, Travis?"

"Not anything you two would find particularly interesting," he said. "Just a little meeting uptown to discuss our private economic endeavors." Angus knew right away he meant their bets on the tracks. "Hopefully all goes well, if it doesn't...I'll have quite the pickle."

"What do you have now?" Angus held his ribs after Malcolm elbowed him, not regretting a word out of his mouth. Travis didn't seem too deterred about the question, or he simply chose to tune out anything he said. "Jesus, Mal," he whispered.

"What Angus meant to ask was, if you were in a bind right now," Malcolm stepped in. "We're a bit short on money too, if you want to know the truth, an' we sort of-"

"I didn't," Travis interrupted. Malcolm swallowed his sentence down, wishing he had a beer to help. "I may be short on money, but Hannah's always more than willing to help pay with whatever she gets."

"I'd rather hear that from her own mouth," Angus mumbled. Malcolm didn't get after him this time. They both wished for their friend to show up at the door and excuse them from keeping him company. Finally she came back out.

"Pardon me, Travis," she said squeezing by after he reluctantly moved. Her smock was gone and a hair bow rested on her head, to which Angus smiled at. Taking her hand in his the three left the porch and Travis behind, not hearing his call of a curfew.

"Do you want my tomatoes?" The wind picked up and carried their hair across their faces getting them annoyed when they kept brushing it out of the way. Each had a sandwich bigger than them in their hands as they walked through the park. Kites were blown senselessly into trees and through the grass and the ducks' feathers were ruffled. Angus took the tomatoes from Hannah.

"You don't like 'em?"

"I prefer cheese," she said taking a bite, the contents spilling out the sides of her mouth. Angus stuck all the tomatoes in his mouth at one time, grinning red at her. She looked at him and nearly choked on her food, Angus patting her on the back while he laughed himself. "You jerk," she coughed.

"Not the biggest one around, sweetheart, believe me. Hey, Malcolm! Keep up, we're almost in the next state!"

Malcolm had taken to walking behind the two, nursing his cigarette after lighting a new one. The sun burned right through his sunglasses and he took them off only to forget them at the diner they just left. He'd have gone back if they helped in the first place. Speeding up his pace he reached the other two but stayed behind on the path. "Gettin' a twist down there, Ang?"

Hannah moved aside to let him walk beside them. He accepted the offer and walked between the two, listening to Angus laugh. "I'm bettin' the squirrels will love the mess you're makin', eh?" Both Malcolm and Hannah turned around to see bits of sandwich scattered on the path. Malcolm had finished his a long time ago, but Hannah still had a few bites left.

"They can have it all except for my cheese," Hannah replied stuffing herself with the last of it. Malcolm whistled at the time it disappeared.

"You ever eat at home, darlin'?" Wiping her mouth she folded her hands in front of her, looking at her shoes.

"Sure, course I do."

Malcolm hesitantly dropped the subject.

Upon reaching an alabaster fountain Angus ran up to it and looked into the water. Coins littered the bottom all resembling a wish someone had made. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a coin, tossing it in. It splashed without a wish made and he was alright with that. Malcolm and Hannah caught up to him. "Whadja wish for?" Malcolm yawned.

"Won't tell you," Angus lied. "Then it won't come true."

"Oh brother," he rolled his eyes. "You ever wish on these, Hannah?"

"It's been years," she said sweeping her hand through the water. "I've been more tempted to steal the coins inside than anything really. To be honest." Angus reached into his pocket taking his last coin and giving it to her. "What's this?"

"What do you think? Toss it in."

"I don't want to take your money, Angus," she said trying to give it back.

"You ain't takin' nothin', I'm givin' it to you, so you can give it to...this, park." He came up behind her holding her waist with one arm, the other hand holding hers with the coin balanced between them. "We'll throw it together, alright? One...two...three!" The coin flew over the water nearly hitting a duck that had landed for a swim, scaring it off.

"The poor thing, look what you did!" Hannah teased.

"Someone needs to watch their aim, yeah?" he said. Hannah had him in a headlock two seconds later and he started laughing. "Jus' tellin' the truth!"

Malcolm used their distraction to walk over to the duck pond and take residence on the bench to watch them. There were two of them, one covered in brown feathers while the other had a striking green head. They quacked at him, and he'd have quacked back had the park not so many visitors. Just to amuse himself. Smoke stood between them and his eyes, and he began to feel bad smoking around them. He crushed the cigarette and set it next to him. One duck had taken up drinking the entire pond, the other getting a few laps in. His head hurt, but he didn't look away. He couldn't look away, not with the ducks acting so funny.

Angus dragged Malcolm behind him through the park toward the slide. A line of kids started from the ladder and wormed its way down, and the boy wanted to get there before it got too long. "Hurry up, Mal, come on!"

"Quit pullin' me, Ang!" Malcolm wrenched his hand away and Angus took off full speed. He stopped where the last kid was, standing on his toes to estimate how long it would take. Malcolm took the spot after him, looking around the park for any faces from his class. "One time, an' your done."

"Mum said I can go as many times as I want!"

"Well Mum's not here is she?" Angus stuck his tongue out and faced the front again. He wrinkled his nose to see the kid in front of him knuckle deep in his own. Some children would take their turn, then sneak their way up the slide giving themselves another one.

"Mal, they're cheating!"

"What?" he asked exasperated as a ten year old could be. Angus pointed under the structure where he could see the misdeeds in action.

"Look, they're cheating!" Malcolm sighed.

"This is gonna take forever." While Angus started yelling kid profanities at the cheaters, Malcolm heard some kids who had not yet taken their turn yell at someone else.

"No girls allowed! Go play on the swings!" A couple blonde kids were shooing away a small girl on the ground who had come who the park with her mother and wanted a turn on the slide. "No girls allowed!"

"You're not the boss!" Hannah yelled back. One boy picked up a pile of bark chips that had made their home from someone's shoes to the structure and poured it on her head. Brushing the dust from her hair she frowned at them and left the slide alone, not wanting any further humiliation. Seeing no kids lining up behind him, Malcolm left his place and ran up to her.

"Come on, you can slide with us," he said. Taking his hand when she recognized her friend she followed him to the ladder with her head down. The boys on the structure didn't notice and began joining Angus in yelling at the cheaters for taking too long. "Here, stand in front of me."

Angus heard Malcolm's voice and turned around. "You?" he frowned seeing the girl from his class.

"She's going with us, Ang," Malcolm explained. "Well, with you. Big kids don't slide."

"She gave me cooties, Mal, I don't want to slide with her!"

"Shut up and deal with it, Arthur," Hannah said crossing her arms. Her temper could be atrocious for a child. Angus' face turned red.

"My name's not Arthur!"

"Angus, shut up!" Malcolm joined in tired of his brother's whining. Angus' day at the park could have been going a lot better. He pouted and turned around, keeping quiet lest Malcolm should run his big mouth to their mother.

"My name's not Arthur," he mumbled.

As the line grew shorter, and kids were letting others take their turns, the three children were at the top of the structure, none of them ever feeling as tall as they did that moment. Angus looked over the edge and waved to nothing in particular. Finally it was his turn and he sat in the edge, stopping when he felt a pair of arms around his neck. "Get off!"

"Malcolm said I'm going with you."

"Take her with you, Angus, I'm getting down from here." The boy turned around to climb down the ladder when a hand pulled him back. Hannah looked up at him and dragged him back toward the slide.

"Come on, Malcolm, we'll slide down together."

"Aw, Hannah, I don't want to-" He stopped when he looked at her little pout. One hand was latched on to Angus so he couldn't leave without them. Malcolm sighed, unable to say no to her. "Fine, get this over with," he mumbled sitting down behind Hannah. He held on to her waist while she grabbed Angus' neck much to his annoyance and all three slid down together, landing in a pile of bark chips below. Angus laughed when Hannah got a splinter and she threatened to kiss his cheek again.

The ducks were both drinking from the pond now. A third had wandered to the edge looking for a good spot to climb in and join them. A tug on his arm scared Malcolm out of his wits and probably the ducks too when he expressed it vocally. Hannah stood by the bench holding his arm. "What do you want?"

"Come on, Mal," she said attempting to pull him up. He stayed put.

"What for?"

"I want to see both my best friends, an' you're sitting over here by yourself!" She pulled his arm until he gave in, standing up. "What's that on your hand?"

He looked down to see her lightly picking on an amateur bandage that covered his palm. "It's uh, nothin', nothin'."

"Doesn't look like nothing."

"Cut my hand is all. Doesn't hardly hurt." Staring at it a second longer, she starting pulling him again.

"Come on, please?"

That damn pout again. He almost called Angus over to wipe it off but Angus' ideas were probably different than his. Sighing he walked with Hannah over to where Angus sat in the grass and joined him, Hannah sitting in between. "Glad you could join us, Mal."

"Jus' couldn't resist," he replied. "What are we doin', makin' grass angels?"

"Jus' talkin', then Hannah didn't want to leave you out. I was against the idea, I didn't want to bother you. You're welcome, Mal." Angus gave his brother a wink and received a scoff in return.

"Thanks, Ang. Are we talkin' 'bout anything interesting, or are we jus' chewin' the fat?"

"Hannah was tellin' about her writing for a while. You say you're gettin' five hundred for this gig?" She nodded.

"A quarter for every word and I need it in by next week. If they like it, they're sending my name to bigger, more well known papers."

"Yeah? Good on ya', soon you'll be more famous than us!" Malcolm smiled.

"I doubt that," Hannah laughed. "I haven't heard a full song let alone a full album but I know you two are quite good."

"The fans don't quite agree this year," Angus said picking at a hangnail. "There's been a lower sale than normal with the newest album...maybe it's jus' 'cause the last one did so well? I mean..." Malcolm nodded.

"I don't think it's 'cause we got Cliff in the band now," he said. "At least, that better not be the reason, Cliff's playing being better. Maybe it's our minds playin' tricks. You get one real good song, an' play another song an' suddenly everyone's radios are shuttin' off." Angus winced when he pulled the hangnail off, inspecting the aftermath on his finger.

"I wish I could hear you guys play more," Hannah said. "Travis would hate having that kind of music playing around the house though."

"Play it when he's gone," Angus suggested. "An' if he comes back before it's over jus' do what I told you."

"What was that?" Malcolm asked.

"Tell him to fuck off," Angus grinned. Malcolm shook his head.

"That's the trouble, he's never gone. He watches that house like a hawk."

"He's gone right now," Malcolm said. "Said he's goin' to some-thingie somewhere, I didn't quite pay attention to him."

"We ain't over there," Angus replied. "We could go back but that house gives me the creeps."

"I needed a little sunshine anyway," Hannah said laying on her back on the grass. She closed her eyes but could see the light dimming. She opened them to see Angus looking over her.

""What are you gonna do when you've got two little rain clouds with ya', eh? I wish I could hear you play, don't you, Mal?" Malcolm smiled and nodded.

"You play anything?" he asked her.

"Just a little piano, but it's just beginner's stuff, I'm not that good yet."

"C'mon, we'll wait till Travis is asleep then break in," Angus suggested.

"That wouldn't end well, Angus and you know it."

Angus barely touched her ribs and she let out a laugh. "The two little rain clouds are stormin' in," he said. "The lightning will strike unless you play us a song." Hannah's laughter grew when Angus tickled her more. "Mal, help."

"No, Mal, don't help!" Hannah yelled out. Malcolm stayed out of it. Angus' tickling lessened and Hannah attacked him in return, pushing him back on the grass. Both of their laughs mixed together through the wind like a song, one that Travis couldn't turn off. Letting him breathe, Hannah removed her hands from his sides and stared down at him, his eyes locked directly on hers. Both were trying to hold in their laughs but failing every few moments. The sun was disappearing behind a grove of trees making themselves rather visible to the other without blinding them. Angus hardly realized he reached a hand up to push her hair behind her ear. A force knocked her away into the grass, the laughter increasing in volume again. Angus sat up and saw Malcolm tickling Hannah. He didn't hesitate to lend a couple of hands.

"Now ya' help!" Angus said making sure Hannah was immobile.

Disregarding his bandage he pushed Angus down and tickled him too. "Had to clear a path to take you out. You're both walnuts, real walnuts!"

It was twilight by the time Hannah returned home. Angus walked on her left side holding her hand while Malcolm took to the right. Travis wasn't waiting on the porch this time. Hannah silently hoped he was still gone and the boys wouldn't have to leave so early until the front door opened. He turned the porch light on and smiled when he saw them. "Hannah! Boys, welcome back! I trust you've all eaten dinner?" Angus' hold tightened.

"No actually, we haven't eaten since lunch," Malcolm explained. Travis opened the door wider, the light streaming outside.

"Would you boys mind stopping in for a bit? Have a bite or two?" Angus and Malcolm exchanged glances. "I just finished mine but there's a pot on the stove you can help yourselves to."

"I'm real sorry Travis, but I have to check on Sherrie back at the hotel ya' know, she's probably wonderin' where I am ya' know." Angus' hold on Hannah broke when Malcolm dragged him aside.

"Sherrie's fine, Ang, what are you doin'?" Malcolm whispered.

"Checkin' on my-"

"Don't pull the girlfriend bullshit on me, Ang."

"-significant other. That so wrong?"

"Leavin' Hannah now when Travis is-"

"Hey!" Angus pulled Malcolm further away from the door. "We can't be by her side twenty four seven ya' know, as much as I would love to be. But I also have other things to look after, an'..." Angus glanced up at the grin Travis gave them. He shivered. "...it seems he's not in a poor mood tonight, maybe she'll be okay."

"You don't know that."

"You stay with her then."

"What?"

"Stay an' have dinner with them, you must be starvin', an' it'll keep you from borrowin' my money," Angus said. He shrugged. "An' I'll just eat with Sherrie at the hotel." Malcolm narrowed his eyes.

"I don't like what you're implyin'." Angus sighed.

"Stay with Hannah for me, okay? Spend some time with her, you haven't seen her nearly as much as I have since we got back." Malcolm shifted in his spot.

"Jus'...haven't got around to it."

"Either way, be there with her, an' make sure Travis doesn't lay a hand on her," he whispered. Malcolm frowned.

"What are you sayin'?"

"With the way Travis gets mad at her sometimes I don't like to think of anything worse happenin', an' since I got to get back to Sherrie you're the only one left to watch out for her." Malcolm rolled his head back, crossing his arms from his brother's request. "Mal, please?"

"I'm doin' it, I'm doin' it. For her, to make sure she's okay. Not so you can spend all that time with some girl you hardly know." Angus lost his smile.

"I know Sherrie like the back of my hand."

"You sure about that? You've been seein' each other for five months." Angus grinned again.

"Wow, even I didn't keep track how long." Malcolm resisted smacking him on the head.

"Your best friend for fuckin' years an' off you go with another girl."

"Shut the fuck up, Mal, I know Sherrie enough to know I want her, an' I can't leave her alone all night in some hotel I brought her to. Keepin' her company was the whole point in takin' her, remember?" Angus stepped off the porch and started toward the gate. "I have to go now."

"You're leaving?" Travis asked.

"Yeah, I've got someone to see, I'll see you all tomorrow or somethin'." He stopped when he felt someone grab him from behind. He looked under his arm and saw two black sleeves. She barely gave him room to turn around and return the hug properly. "You okay?" he asked.

"Can't I say goodbye first?" Her voice was muffled.

"Right, sorry. I uh, don't really like saying goodbye to you..."

"It's better than leaving without one," she said raising her head to look at him. "Isn't it?" He smiled and ran his fingers through her hair.

"I guess so," he whispered. His lips touched her nose and he let her go. "Mal's gonna stay with you, okay? I jus' can't leave Sherrie alone all evenin' ya' know?"

"Oh sure, sure." Her face was red.

"We'll be back tomorrow, save that nose for me!" He left them, his small frame illuminated by the streetlights when he passed under them. Malcolm took Hannah by the elbow and brought her back up the porch steps into the house where Travis welcomed them eagerly.

The door closed behind them and they were graced by the warm fireplace and recently used oven. "Take a seat anywhere around the table, except where the empty plate is, that was mine." He walked ahead of them and removed it from the table, putting it in the sink to wash. Malcolm pulled a chair out for Hannah and she sat down, him beside her. Travis came out from the kitchen with two more plates and again a second time with a pot and spoon. "Still hot. Here you are."

The food dished out on their plates was a warm yellow poured over the top of steamed broccoli. Forks and napkins were provided for the two and Travis finally sat down with them.  "This is nice of you, Travis," Malcolm said. "What's the occasion?"

"Just the man to talk with this about! I've been waiting all evening for your return, Hannah, you'll never believe this. The dogs were accidentally let loose before the race, one got away a good distance and they're still trying to catch him back. They haven't called to say they have him yet," Travis explained. "Gave everybody there their money back, plus a bonus."

"How much did you get back?" Hannah asked.

"My original three hundred plus an extra fifty two. That puts us in a better spot than we were, sweetheart!" Hannah gave a weak smile in return, glad he got the money back and glad the dogs escaped a day of vigorous racing, but concerned with how much money Travis had laid on the table.

"What do you mean dogs, what are the dogs for?" Malcolm had heard Angus mention something about the hobby of his, but wanted to be sure. Travis never dropped his smile.

"Oh, just a little fun with them, have them run a few meters. They enjoy it, it gets their energy out." Hannah clenched her fork a bit tighter. "Good thing too, mine had a bit bigger of a breakfast this morning."

Malcolm took the fork out of his mouth and looked at Hannah who kept her head down. Something about the apathy in Travis' tone about the animals did something to her he couldn't see, but he could sense. As if she felt a special empathy with the dogs and their treatment. He made sure to sit in between them at the table, keeping Angus' request in mind. Travis wouldn't lay a hand on her that evening while he was there.

"A little extra money is never a bad thing," Malcolm said, continuing the conversation to be polite. "Takin' a chance with it though, could lose everything."

"Only the clever survive in that kind of world, son. You have to know where to place your chips, right?"

"Yeah..." Malcolm remembered how clever the man had been at Poker.

"Of course tonight I got lucky. Fifty two over, can you believe it?"

"I'd need to see it first," Malcolm sighed.

"I was so happy when I heard the news that I just had to treat myself with a well cooked meal. Hannah, have at it!" Her plate was already nearly empty, her serving seemingly smaller than Malcolm's at first glance, but he had shrugged it off. He didn't know the mistake he made at the time. Travis picked up the pot from the table and held it over Malcolm's plate. "Would you like any more before you leave?"

"No thanks, I should get goin' soon, it's gettin' late," Malcolm said taking the opportunity to excuse himself. The pot was set down without even being offered to Hannah again. Travis didn't seem to be putting up much of a threat tonight. Besides. Malcolm's throat was dry. "Come on, Hannah."

It was cold outside. Hannah shivered despite the warm hug goodbye. Malcolm let her go and walked down the steps through the same path his brother took under the streetlights. One last goodbye echoed from her spot on the porch and he caught it just in time and turned around. "I'll see you tomorrow, that is, if Angus wakes up in time."

"I'll knock him silly," Malcolm said. "A good splash of water might get him up." They shared one last smile. "He'll be up, don't worry. He's nuts about ya'."

"He's nuts period." Hannah opened the door to her house and stepped inside. "Take care of your hand okay?"

"I promise, no high fives until it's better." He smiled. "Goodbye." His frame disappeared in the same fashion as his brother's did.

Angus closed the hotel room door behind him and turned on the light. The kitchen table was exactly the same as it was when he left this morning, as was the couch in the living room. He set his coat there and checked the bedroom where Sherrie wasn't. It was a little after seven when he got back and the sky was absolutely dark. Deciding to start on dinner if Sherrie hadn't already he entered the kitchen and grabbed a pot from the cupboard and filled it in the sink. The water slowly rose to the top as his eyes wandered about the counter. A piece of paper written on in purple ink caught his attention. Forgetting the faucet he grabbed it and held it closer to the light above to see.

Angus,

Went out for the evening to explore the town and have a little fun. I'll get myself some dinner while I'm here, and I'll come back probably before midnight. Feel free to eat without me, I know you and Hannah probably already shared a meal. Don't bother trying to call me, I can handle myself. See? I've finally written you a note, hope you're proud of me.

Love you.

The name at the bottom with a heart drawn next to it only confirmed his suspicion as to who wrote it. The handwriting was neat, a little too neat. She always wrote in cursive however, so he appreciated that he was able to understand what it said. His pants and shoes were soaked and the floor around him had a puddle already bigger than a slight problem. He turned the faucet off and emptied half of the water out of the pot. A towel was grabbed from the other side of the counter, his shoes making a bigger mess when he walked to take it. It did its job and was put back, the pot placed on the stove. The apartment only then felt empty, and he wondered if he should have stayed for dinner, or if he didn't get to the hotel quick enough.

He wondered what Hannah and Malcolm had eaten.