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Body tensed, Noah waited for Allee to quieten, but instead, he felt her stirring, and her hands lightly traced down over his abdomen.
“You 'wake?” she murmured sleepily.
“I am now,” he replied, rolling over to hover above her, his long hair falling down to curtain them away from the world. Allee smiled and reached up, pulling Noah's face down to hers, and the last deliberate thought that Noah had before his desire took over was that he would do whatever he could to keep Allee happy and a part of his life.
Sunday was quiet. Allee and Noah had shared a shower, washing each other before Noah pinned her to the wall and slaked both their desires. Moving to the lounge room, they enjoyed a low-key meal of toast and coffee. After Piddle had been given her breakfast of dry kibble – which she was unimpressed with considering the previous morning's treat – Allee took her outside into the enclosure. Cautious at first, carefully placing each paw as she sniffed around the interior, unsure as to where the boundaries were, Piddle eventually made her way out into the unshaded area, investigating the climbing frames and hammocks. Before long, she had relaxed enough to sprawl out in a patch of sunlight, exposing her chin and belly to the warming rays. Satisfied the cat was content, Allee walked back inside through the downstairs door, the large tiled space feeling cavernous in its emptiness.
Heading back upstairs to where Noah was watching Serenity, she joined him on the couch, tucked her feet up on the soft leather, and watched as River Tam dreamed of the abandonment of Earth-that-was as she went through neural-stripping. They cuddled together, hands entwined, and once the movie had ended, Noah turned the television off and drew Allee back into his arms.
“Y'know, I've really enjoyed this weekend with you and Piddle. I don't often have people over,” he said.
Allee smiled, leaning into Noah's arms some more.
“You've done a fantastic job with this place, Noah. I think it's wonderful if a little empty. As much as I've enjoyed eating in bed or on the couch, I think you need a dining table.”
“Yeah, I'll get around to it one day. I just haven't needed one. I generally eat at my desk downstairs, and I've got to admit, this is the first time in a long time that I haven't spent the weekend either working on this place or downstairs at my desk. I still have plans to convert the garage into another room or two, maybe even opening up downstairs some more, so being to unwind like this has been a lot of fun.”
Sighing with regret, Allee snuggled further into Noah’s embrace.
“As comfortable as I am, and as much as I don't want to move, I need to get home. I've got washing that needs to be done, a house that needs to be cleaned, and several phone calls to make. Do you think you can drive me home in about an hour?”
Grimacing, Noah nodded his head, “Yeah, I can do that, although I'd much prefer you stayed.”
With a sigh, Noah got up off the couch, offering Allee his hand in assistance. Allee paused at that remark but then shrugged it off, placing her hand in his outstretched one. He let her set the pace of their relationship, offering opportunities but not pressuring her into accepting them. This was such a contrast with her previous relationship that Allee felt liberated and empowered, wondering if this was what a true partnership was all about.
Back in her own town house, Allee sat on her couch, relaxing with a cup of coffee. Noah had dropped her and Piddle home, much to the cat's disgust, and she was now sulking up in Allee's wardrobe. After ploughing through her chores, she decided to give her parents a call.
“Hey Mum, how are things down there?”
“Allee, honey, it’s good to hear from you! Things are same-old-same-old, we're planning a trip to visit your brother in the next couple of weeks, which will be nice. He's met a lovely young lady where he's working, and we're all going to go out for dinner and meet her. How are things with you?”
“Good! Work is going great, I'm enjoying it, everyone is lovely, and I think I’ll be happy here.”
“That other young lady and you have sorted out your issues?”
“Yeah, she's actually a decent person. Just doesn't trust outsiders that much. But it’s sorted now. We've become friends.”
“Oh, that's wonderful! How's Piddle coping with it all? Has she settled in? And you, are you all settled? Nothing we should worry about?”
Allee sighed softly. Her parents had always been the sort who would let their children live their own lives without interference, but the last year or so had changed that attitude. They were now constantly worried about whether she was safe and happy.
“Piddle is fine, although she's upstairs sulking at the moment. As for me... I've started seeing someone.”
Knowing how they’d worry because of Stuart’s past behaviour, Allee had been holding off telling her parents about Noah being anything other than a work colleague.
“What? Who? What is he like? How did you meet? Should we come up and meet him? How do you know him?”
“Mum, it's okay. His name is Noah, and I work with him. He's a nice guy, we have a lot in common, and the people we work with like him. I've even met his parents.”
“But how can you be sure? Stuart seemed so nice on first appearances, and yet look how he turned out!”
“Mum...” Allee sighed in frustration, “look, we've been working together for four months now, so I've seen what he's like under stress and under pressure. Piddle loves him, and he adores her, and, well, he knows about Stuart. He knows it all.”
There was a pregnant silence at the other end of the telephone. “You told him about Stuart?”
“Yes, Mum. He knows everything.”
“Everything?”
