Faye had had a long day at the hospital, and she was relieved when she pushed through her gate into the courtyard. Home at last, her plans consisted of a nice hot meal followed by a nice hot bath and then maybe a little television. It was not an exciting life she led but it was at least relaxing at times.

She heard voices and laughter coming from Silas's open apartment door which meant that he must have guests, and she knew it wasn't Chloe since she had just left her at the hospital. She turned to lock the gate, and when she turned back around it was to find Silas closing the apartment door behind him as he crossed the courtyard towards her.

Faye had only seen him in passing the past week and she was convinced it was because she had insulted him somehow, although she was at a loss as to how.

"Faye, how was your day at the hospital?" he asked as he reached her.

"It was long, how was your day off, you were missed." Faye saw a movement at the window, and she knew they were being watched.

"By you?" he asked with an amused smile.

Faye felt a blush stain her cheeks as she realized what she said and how it sounded. "S-s-sure," she said, unable to explain that while she had missed him, all the other nurses had as well. Robin had been a nightmare, giving her the third degree, convinced that Faye knew where he was.

"Relax, I know better," he teased, watching her blush darken. "Charming," he said.

"You have visitors?" she asked, noting the movement in the window again.

"Is it that obvious?" he asked.

"I heard voices and the curtain in the window behind you keeps moving." Faye adjusted the bag on her shoulder. She didn't realize that she looked impossibly young, with her makeup-less face, hair in a ponytail, and a backpack that was too large for her.

"They're not very subtle, are they?" He laughed a low laugh that made her tummy do funny things. He seemed happy.

"Come and meet them, they want to meet you." He took her backpack from her shoulder and set it off to one side as he led the way to the apartment. Faye followed him unsure of what to expect.

When he opened the door and stood aside for her to enter, she saw two young blond teenagers, a girl and a boy, both smiling.

"You must be Faye," the young girl said, rushing forward with both of her hands outstretched.

"Faye, this is my daughter Andrea and my son Aaron. They are staying with me for a few days, I hope that is alright?" he asked.

"Yes, of course," Faye said as the girl enveloped her in a hug. She looked just like Silas, she was a big girl, not overweight, just tall and broad. Her hair was so blond it was almost white, and her eyes were grey just like her fathers.

Aaron stepped forward as Andrea stepped back, his hand held out in greeting. He was a bit more reserved than Andrea, more like Silas. He had the same blond hair and grey eyes and he was just as large as the other two.

Faye greeted them with a smile, thinking that they were beautiful and sweet tempered. She looked around the apartment and noted all the new stuff strewn about.

"They're not staying here with you, are they? There's not enough room. I would have thought a hotel." Faye didn't mean to be rude, but he had enough money to move them to a hotel for a day or two.

"I want them near me, they are young and in a strange city," Silas said, sounding very parental.

"Poppa," Andrea said as she rolled her eyes, her accent was much thicker than her fathers. "Aaron and I have traveled all over Europe and have been in plenty of strange cities," she insisted.

"That may be true, but as long as I'm here, you'll stay with me so I can keep an eye on you."

Faye studied Silas covertly, she hadn't taken him for an overprotective parent.

"And I haven't seen you in months, lieveling." He smiled tenderly at his daughter and Faye swallowed hard as her heart turned over at the sight. There was no doubt that he adored his children.

"I have plenty of room upstairs if that would be more convenient?" Faye offered, not really sure why she did. They hadn't asked, and she didn't think that the offer was expected by Silas because of the widening of his eyes in reaction to it.

"You have surprised Poppa with your offer," Andrea said, watching her father and coming to the same conclusion. "Why has she surprised you, Poppa? From everything you've told us about Faye, it would be odd if she didn't offer."

If Silas was shocked by his daughter's blunt statement, he didn't show it. Faye, on the other hand, was shocked. She wanted to know why he had been discussing her with his children and what exactly he had been saying.

"Are you sure you don't mind Faye, how about your brother, will he mind?" Silas was watching her closely.

"I doubt it," especially not once he caught sight of the beautiful Andrea, she thought silently to herself. "He probably won't even realize that we have guests. I have plenty of space, both Andrea and Aaron can have their own rooms. Although they will have to share a bathroom." Faye explained.

Andrea reached for her stuff. "That is not a problem, you should see some of the hostels we've stayed in before."

Faye looked at Silas, whose face was void of all emotion at his daughter's revelation. It had to be every father's worst nightmare, but to his credit, he didn't say a word only crossed his arms. As if she sensed her father's concern, Andrea walked over to him and kissed his cheek. "I always have Aaron with me, Poppa."

They all looked over at Faye, waiting for her to show them where to put their stuff.

"Follow me," she said as she exited the apartment and reached for her bag. Aaron and Andrea followed her up to the house, but Silas remained in the apartment. 

"I'll be here when you are settled. We'll go out to dinner. Faye, you are welcome to join us if you like," he offered.

"No thank you," she declined. "It was a long day."

Hayes was sitting at the kitchen table when they entered, and when he saw Andrea, his eyes grew wide. Faye introduced them and he was too dumbstruck by Andrea's sweet smile and Aaron's glowering scowl to say much of anything.

Faye explained that they would be staying for a few days and then led them up the stairs to the two vacant rooms that she kept ready for Alyssa and her friends. She dropped off Aaron first, and he looked around with a nod, giving her a sweet smile to say that he liked the room. Next, she showed Andrea her room, which was right next door to Aaron's, and she said it was lovely as she threw her stuff on the bed in a careless way.

"Are you sure you won't come to dinner with us?" she asked. "We would love it if you did."

"No, thank you, I really am very tired. I'll leave a key on the kitchen table for you." Faye smiled at her sweetly and told her to have a good evening as she moved down the hallway to her own room, almost as soon as she got there Hayes joined her, closing the door behind him.

"How does your stuffy boyfriend have such a hot daughter?" he asked in a whisper.

Faye rolled her eyes. "Hayes, I would stay well away from her, I would hate to see you on the wrong side of Dr. DeGraff, and I don't think his son would be much better." Faye realized as she said it that was probably true. She had never seen Silas angry, he was always even-tempered, but she had a feeling if his temper was ever riled that he would be a sight to behold. She also guessed that she wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that anger.

"Relax Faye, you're so uptight, I only want to have a little fun, maybe take her out or something." He opened the door and walked away with a huff, leaving Faye in doubt that he had heard her warning.

She would feel horrible if something was to go wrong while Silas's children were staying under her roof.

With a sigh, she carried an extra key downstairs and put it on the kitchen table then grabbed her things and made her way to the bathroom, convinced that something was going to go terribly wrong. When she finished her bath, the house was empty, and she ate her meal in solitary silence before she went to bed, telling herself she had made the right decision declining to go to dinner with them.

Her last thought was to wonder if Silas had invited Chloe to go out with them as well, and she fell asleep with the image of the four of them sitting around a table eating as a happy family.

She couldn't figure out why the image was making her cry.