Lily arrived the next morning nearly half-an-hour early, rousing Reese from bed sooner than she would've liked. After Tom's hurried wake-up call, she threw on a t-shirt and jeans and stuck her hair back in a short ponytail, knowing she should make herself look a bit more presentable and pushing out of her room anyway.

     "This is what you get when you show up before the appointment time," Reese grumbled to herself as she marched down the stairs to where Tom and Lily were already sitting. He'd made them tea, and gestured to a seat beside him upon seeing her enter the room, offering up a steaming mug. She walked over and accepted it thankfully. Tom saw her, snorted rather loudly, then gave a sort of a weak cough to try and cover it up.

     Reese flared her nostrils indignantly, and followed Tom's gaze to the shirt she was wearing. Keep Calm and Kneel to Loki.

     Shit.

     But Reese at turned her attention to Lily, while Tom snickered silently behind his hand, hoping she'd somehow missed the exchange, and the shirt (as if), grabbing a blanket to pull up around her chest.

     "Hi, Lily, right?" she asked. The girl nodded and smiled brightly.

     "That's right, nice to meet you."

     Lily had vibrant red hair, tied up tightly in a bun that once would expect from a forty-something-year-old nun, but definitely not from someone her age. Nevertheless, she was pretty, light eyes, high cheeks, dark eyebrows. And smiling seemed to only make her face light up.

     Reese risked a sideways glance at Tom, who was scanning a sheet of paper sitting on his lap. Lily was watching him closely.

     "So.. Lily," he started, and she perked up instantly. "Why did you respond to our ad?"

     Lily gave him another small smile and set her tea down, crossing a skinny leg under her skirt. "Well, I've just graduated college, and only a few days ago finished moving back in with my parents. They're old, see, and need tending to. I figured, I'd look for a job, and I found you."

     "Why us specifically?" Tom asked, finally lifting his eyes from the paper to her face. "Why should we choose you?"

     Reese stopped herself from pointing out that she was their only option, and they had to choose her, but Tom didn't back down, and Lily actually looked a little uncomfortable.

     "Well, your father," she turned to Reese, "is absolutely adorable, and I've had experience taking care of my grandfather, who also suffered from Alzheimer's. He passed a few years ago, but he lived a long good life."

     Tom turned to Reese as if to ask if she had anything to add. Reese just blew on her tea and took a long sip and he turned back to his paper.

     "You've read the job description, correct?" he asked. "It would be 24/7 care, you'd live in the house."

     "Yes."

     "And you're okay with the pay amount?"

     "Of course."

     Reese just sat and watched, Tom delving into the rest of his questions, Lily staring at him intently. There was something raw about the way she eyed his face, arms, almost animalistic, and Reese gripped the handle of her mug tighter and drained it in one long gulp.

     Lily seemed to sense that Reese was watching her, because she glanced over and raised her eyebrows, before Tom hit her with another question and she returned her full attention to him.

     "You would prepare all his meals, help him dress... can you cook?"

     "Yes. Well, decently anyway. I've had to cook a lot for my family."

     Reese stared down at her empty mug. She couldn't cook, save for pancakes and boxed brownies. Tom nodded, satisfied, and scribbled something down Reese was too far away to make out.

     "I've had plenty of experience," she was saying. "My grandad, I worked in a retirement home for quite a few years in high school."

     "He's not retirement age," Reese said quietly, and both Tom and Lily turned to look at her.

     "What?" Tom asked, sounding slightly worried.

     "He's fifty-five, not an old man. He only seems it."

     "Right," Lily agreed uncomfortably. "Well, I just mean I have experience taking care of people. I didn't mean to imply-"

     "It's alright," Tom cut her off, glancing sideways at Reese. "I understand."

     After a few more questions, and an exchange of phone numbers (Lily tucked hers carefully into her pocket), Tom saw her out, waving and smiling, and closed the door behind her. Instantly he turned his attention to Reese, who'd stood up and let the blanket drop onto the chair. She knew what was coming.

     "Well I hope we haven't just scared her off," he said, marching back into the living room.

     Reese crossed her arms. "What do you mean? You were very cordial," she said.

     "But you weren't! It didn't help glaring at her through the entire interview. The tension between you two was suffocating!"

     She shrugged. "Lily seems like a perfectly nice girl-"

     "Yeah, and just about our only option at this point. It would help if you'd be nice to her so she actually wants to come back."

     "Pretty," she added quietly. "Couldn't keep her eyes off you."

     "Oh, come off it," Tom scoffed, pacing. "We both know that's not true. I only hope she'll decide to call so we can finally get someone up here with your dad."

     "Doesn't it matter if I like her too?" Reese asked, exasperated.

     "Of course it does, Reese. Look..." he sighed, and stopped his pacing, running his hands fervently through his hair. "If you don't like her... we'll just..."

     "No Tom, she's fine," she cut him off, knowing what he was going to say and feeling her anger die out almost immediately. "I'll talk to dad... and you can call her tomorrow."

     Tom stared at her for a moment, his eyes softening, and he opened his arms and stepped forward. Reese moved toward him and sunk into his chest as he buried her in a hug. She could feel his lean muscles through his shirt and she tried to breathe shallowly, so as not to take in too much of his cologne. It might actually be the death of her.

     "Thank you, Tom," she murmured against his chest. "For helping, even though you don't have to."

     "Hey," he pulled back and held her shoulders at arm's length, staring seriously into her eyes. "I'm your friend, Reese. Stop saying thank you." His gaze hardened and she found herself unable to hold it; the most she could do was stare at the floor and crack a small smile.

     "I know."

     Tom continued to stare at her and opened his mouth as if about to say something, then changed his mind and closed it again. Reese pulled away to grab her empty cup and he let his arms fall to his sides.

     "What do you say about a run?" Reese asked, clearing her throat and hoping the subject change wasn't too noticeable. Who was she kidding?

     But Tom broke into a grin. "I'd love that, actually. It's been awhile since I've been out."

     "Great, let me just go get dad settled, and I'll meet you back down here."

***

     The crisp afternoon air did wonders on Reese's mood, sliding over her face and piercing her lungs in the best way possible. They started off down the block, Tom beside her, graciously slowing his pace slightly so Reese and her much shorter legs could stay even with him. They passed houses, some people had already put up Christmas decorations, though it was still over two months away.

     She let her mind wander back to Lily and felt her face flush. She'd been a dick, and she knew it, and there was no realistic scenario where she got to be jealous. Lily seemed nice enough and Reese prayed silently that she hadn't in some way scared her off. She desperately needed somebody to take care of her father.

     To... what? Get back to your lousy apartment and no job?

     Reese felt her heart sink, having almost forgotten her firing. Maybe she could go back and beg for her spot back?

     But she knew she couldn't live with her father. That old house had too many memories, and she didn't think she could handle sitting back and watching him deteriorate like he was. God, she loved him, of course, she loved him, but she was sure that would be the end of her. She knew it was only a matter of time before he wouldn't even remember her -- or mom, for that matter. He'd be put in a home and be fed meals you can only eat with a spoon, and die much too soon.

     And what about Tom?

     The question popped up in the back of her mind. What about Tom?

     Would she move back to LA and they'd go their separate ways, save for the occasional phone call? Would he visit her? She wasn't even sure if she could afford the plane ticket home.

     "Reese?" Tom's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "Are you okay?"

     "Hm?"

     "You've been quiet."

     "Oh," she stuttered, "I'm fine, just thinking about dad and... LA."

     They ran in silence for a bit, and Reese gulped the freezing air, letting it fill her up and push any worried thoughts from her head.

     "What happens... to us?" Reese asked suddenly, the question spilling from her mouth before she could even fully process what it meant."

     "What?"

     "After Lily moves in, after I go home, after... after you leave?"

     In the midst of their running, Tom stopped in his tracks to look at her. Reese slowed to a walk, looking back at him in confusion.

     "I don't know," he mumbled, staring at the ground as if contemplating something. "I'll visit you, I guess, like with most of my friends."

     The words were meant to be comforting, but Reese felt her heart sink a little at them.

     "Of course," she said, walking back towards him. "And I can call you."

     It just doesn't seem like enough.

     Tom fell into step beside her and they moved slowly forward, Reese shivering slightly as a cold breeze washed over the beads of sweat on her forehead. Tall pine trees towered above them, and the afternoon sun shone dully through low-hanging clouds.

     "I wish we'd met sooner," she said quietly. Tom was quiet for a minute, and Reese almost decided he hadn't heard her.

     "Why is that?"

     She sighed. "I wish we'd met in LA, maybe. At home, and I would take you around to my favorite bookstore, or for coffee."

     "There's great bookstores here," he said. "And Seattle is right next door. The coffee capital."

     Reese smiled a little and shrugged. "I just feel like I'm stuck. Here. And I'm not sure I want it to end."

     Tom nodded, seeming to understand, and without warning pulled her into a side hug. She let him, despite the fact they were both very sweaty, and let him drape his arm over her shoulders.

     Sweet Tom.

     Kind Tom.

     "I understand," he said sternly. "It sort of feels like a dream."

     Reese leaned into him, despite the heat, and a warm, happy feeling washed over her. She closed her eyes and tried to breathe deeply, her mind working furiously.

     She liked waking up to him every morning, making breakfast, going together with her dad on walks, Christ, even having someone to run with...

     Reese laid her head on his chest as they walked and took in another breath. Dear God, he smelled good, even after running four miles.

     When had this happened?

     When had she fallen in love with Tom?