Talon woke up the next morning and felt an ache in his bones. That's what he got for falling asleep on the couch. Talon tried to avoid the harsh sunlight that was beating on his face through the window. Forcing his eyes shut to give them some time to adjust. How long had he been asleep?

He peeled himself away from Vanessa, suddenly remembering the events of last night. Things were too new, too fresh, to be introduced to the situation with his mother. How could he have thought that was a good idea to bring Vanessa home with him last night? He should have rescheduled their date then and there, or at least he could have given her a heads up about what they were walking into .

Talon turned to look at Vanessa, mostly to apologize for falling asleep on her, but when he noticed her face, he froze.

"Are you alright?" Talon asked, taking in the sight of the bags that had formed under Vanessa's eyes. She sat frozen, with the blanket wrapped around her legs. Her finger fidgeted with the tassels on the blanket, but more in a twitch like manner than out of boredom or nervousness. She seemed to be in a whole other world until something snapped her out of her trance.

"Good morning." She smiled, turning to look at Talon as if nothing had just happened.

"Good morning to you as well, so sorry I fell asleep on you like that. Why didn't you wake me?" Talon mumbled as he pulled away from Vanessa once more to stretch his arms. He would regret it later in the day when the soreness really settled in, but for now, he tried to enjoy the idea of sleeping with Vanessa on the couch. Even if she had freaked him out a little.

"You seemed so content. How could I disturb that?" Vanessa shrugged, as she wrapped the blanket tighter around herself.

"Can I make you breakfast?"

Vanessa nodded, and Talon slipped off the couch so he could get to work on preparing a delicious spread for her. Once he was in the kitchen, he grabbed the eggs, and then the bread, and pulled out every box of cereal that they had on hand. Talon opened the fridge and checked the milk to make sure it hadn't spoiled while Vanessa chatted with him. He needed to make sure he had some food ready in time for his mother to avoid another freak out.

Shit, would she be worried that Vanessa was still here?

Talon had been so careless letting Vanessa come around his mother without preparing either of them. Last night had been an emergency, but if he had it his way, they still would have never met. A nervousness washed over Talon as the eggs sizzled in the pan.

What would his mother do when she woke up? Would she be over her freak out last night and be her normal self? Was it even possible for her to be normal anymore? Would Vanessa get to actually meet his mother, or would she just get to meet a shell of the woman who raised him?

Talon looked over the counter to look at Vanessa. She was sitting on the couch, staring into the corner of the room. Was she still freaked out by last night?

Talon couldn't imagine how weird it would be to come into a scene like that, and he mentally kicked himself for leaving her in the car and rushing inside. He felt conflicted between his mother and the girl he was falling for. Would she be mad at him for picking his mother over her?

A million questions rushed through Talon's mind, and it felt like the whole weight of the world was crashing down around him. He couldn't seem to balance a relationship with the care that his mother needed. There were conveniences in having no social life when the only living parent you have needed medical assistance most of the day.

Talon looked across the table once more, taking in the beauty of Vanessa's messed up hair, but when Talon actually paid attention to Vanessa, and not just worried about how she felt, or would react to the situation last night, he noticed she was distant again. Her eyes seemed glazed over, only making the dark circles seem more apparent. She looked like she hadn't slept in weeks.

"Did you sleep okay last night?" Talon asked, trying to make conversation.

Vanessa looked at him like he was insane. Talon was a little shocked she didn't just nod her head and move on.

She finally muttered after what felt like an eternity of staring at each other. "No, I didn't sleep last night."

"Well, why not?" Talon asked.

"I really don't know." Vanessa was quick to answer, but seemed annoyed by his question.

"What do you usually like to eat for breakfast?" Talon questioned, trying to change the subject. Maybe Vanessa wasn't a morning person?

"I normally don't eat breakfast. I usually just get a croissant and call it a day, honestly." Talon felt like he was getting nowhere, and everything he did was just digging his grave deeper.

"Do you like eggs? I'm making a plate for my mother and can throw a few extra in there for you?"

"No, not really."

"What about some cereal?"

"Can I just have some toast?" Vanessa nearly growled as she got up from the couch, taking another seat at the barstools overlooking the stove.

"Your wish is my command. Are you sure everything is okay?" Talon muttered, grabbing some more bread and popping it into the toaster.

"Yes." Vanessa said harshly.

Talon nearly jumped back from the counter at the force of her words. "Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you this morning."

"Just stop asking questions, please." Vanessa placed her head down on the counter and all Talon wanted to do was comfort her. But how could he when she was acting like this?

Before Talon could say anything else to mess things up even further, his mother sauntered into the kitchen. "Good morning!" She sang as she danced through the kitchen like she did every morning. This gave Talon a bit of hope that this would be a good day until she turned around and noticed the dark-haired girl with her face down on the table. Talon's heart froze after leaping into his throat.

"What's wrong with her?"

Talon shrugged, a small smile forming on his face. He put the spatula in the pan and mixed the scrambled eggs some more so they didn't burn. Today was going to be a good day, at least when it came to his mother. Now all he needed to do was figure out Vanessa.

"Mom, are you feeling okay this morning?" Talon asked. He placed a plate of eggs and bacon on the counter for her. She gladly took the food and moved to the dining table in the corner of the kitchen.

"I'm feeling great, honey. Why do you ask?"

Vanessa finally lifted her head at the sound of Talon's mother's voice. She looked around the room, sinking further into herself. Talon didn't know how to help make the situation better.

He pulled out his phone and texted the clinic office to see if he could have an aid come out and help his mother for a few hours. Technically, since today was his day off, the hours didn't have to get approved, but he hoped they would. He wanted to avoid having to drive Vanessa home with his mother in the car as well.

Talon placed his phone down on the counter and made his own plate of food. He took a seat next to his mother, leaving Vanessa alone at the counter. He watched carefully as Vanessa leaned over and grabbed a plate he had pulled out of the cupboard earlier. She put a few pieces of toast on it and grabbed the last two pieces of bacon. Tucking the plate close to her chest, she slowly made her way to the dining table, taking a seat next to Talon. A flutter in his ribcage felt like a thousand butterflies threatening to escape when she got close to him.

"I'm sorry, dear, I don't remember your name?" Talon's mother asked. She looked at Vanessa with pure joy in her eyes, likely in excitement to see her son with someone else.

"Vanessa." Vanessa mumbled.

"That's a pretty name. How long have you two been dating?" Sherry asked.

Vanessa nearly choked on the food she'd just placed in her mouth, and Talon almost did the same.

"Oh, Mother, right now we are just going on dates." Talon muttered in a panic.

"Exactly, that's what I asked. How long have you two been dating? No need to make things weird."

Talon felt like he wanted to die, to melt away in his chair over the words falling from his mother's mouth. A very small part of him had wished that his mother wasn't having such a good day, and that she wouldn't have realized there was another person in the room. But then he'd have to explain her weird behavior to Vanessa. Talon felt trapped between responsibilities.

"We've been on some dates over the last few weeks. I think right now we are just enjoying each other." Vanessa smiled.

"You two are so cute. Maybe you should think about moving past just going on dates." Talon's mother shrugged. "My name is Sherry, by the way."

Talon jumped in his chair, startled by a ding on his phone. He pushed the seat back and rushed to check it. His request had been approved, and Mindy, the regular helper, would be here within the hour.

"Hey, Mom, Mindy is on her way over to hang out with you while I run Vanessa home. Do you need anything while I'm out?"

"No, sweetie, I should be fine."

Talon felt a glimpse of pain at her words. What did fine mean in this instance? Would she be normal again for a day, or did it just mean her freakout would be something Mindy could handle?

"So, Vanessa, where do you work?" Sherry turned to look at Vanessa, reaching across the table and placing her hand on Vanessa's arm. Vanessa looked up at her, those beautiful eyes searching her face.

"I'm a paperwork runner for a law firm here in the city." Vanessa mumbled through a full mouth of food. Leaning back in her chair, she tried to fix her posture, as if she wanted the mother to think differently of her.

"Oh man, I bet you see some crazy stories working in a law firm." Sherry clicked her tongue, scooping up the last bit of food before popping it into her mouth. "Delicious breakfast, sweetheart, thank you. I'm going to go get ready for work."

Talon turned to his mother in confusion. Work? His mother hadn't worked in over a year? Talon shook his head, trying to decipher his mother's actions, but ultimately letting it go when he saw Vanessa look up at him.

"Your mother has a job?" Vanessa asked, cleaning her own plate.

"Nope, she hasn't for a little while now. She must think it's before she got sick." Talon tapped his fingers against the table, watching the clock slowly tick the time away.

"What does she have?" Vanessa questioned.

"Alzeihmers."

"Oh."

A knock on the door startled the two of them out of their seats. Talon rushed to the front door to let who he assumed was Mindy in. Vanessa took the plates to the sink and set them gently against the stainless steel.

"Mindy, good morning. Thank you so much for being able to come and help out with her today. I'm going to drop Vanessa off, and then probably stop at the grocery store and gather a few things on my way home. My mother is apparently getting ready for work, so who knows how today is going to go? I didn't see her take her meds at breakfast, so I think she still needs to take them." Talon muttered to the blonde standing in the doorway, and Vanessa watched intently.

After Mindy was in the house and settled, Talon turned to Vanessa.

"Now come on, let's get you home." He whispered.