Lee had been cutting back at the bar. Fewer nights, Lee's hours. Because between working at Haven, volunteering at the Sanctuary, spending time with her son, Blaine, and whatever the hell was going on with his doppelganger, even Lee was starting to realize that she was stretching herself thin. Once again, finding both the time and lack of energy to be able to sleep was coming far less often than she would like. In fact, there had already been a couple times where she had come frighteningly close to crashing. And that was something she never wanted to have to do again. Especially since Rachel would likely just let her sleep, thinking she needed the rest.

At least she was starting to get some kind of handle and control over being able to turn off her siphoning. Though it was still far from a perfect science, or guaranteed to work when she tried to shut it off.

But there must be the flu or something going around at the bar, because Matt was actually claiming to be too sick to go to work, asking, begging her to head in for him despite the fact that she was trying to cut back her hours. And half of the staff had called in sick, too. Which left Lee in a bit of a jam not having enough bartenders to man the bar that night. And, while Lee could pour beer a open bottles, but she was far from an actual bartender, and she knew she wouldn't be a whole lot of help behind the bar.

So Lee did the only thing left that she could think of and called Sam. Since he owned that bar she had wandered into months earlier, maybe he knew a bartender or two that she could employ for a night or two.

Lee called, asked for some help. Sam came running with two of his own employees. His own bar was covered, his manager could handle the crowd with ease and her dad was there to step in if needed, if he didn’t get too drunk first.

Sam walked into Lee’s establishment with a push of the door and a little wave. There were already a few people crowding the bar and Sam gave a slight nod to Lee as he and his crew of two made there way behind the bar. ”Jack, better not break anything. We’re guests here and Erin, keep it civil not everyone likes you cursing like a sailor.” Erin a short redhead gave Sam a smirk then teleported behind the bar next to Lee.

”Lee, these are two of my tenders, told them you’ll pay the big bucks.” the icemancer said with a smirk as he gave the woman a one armed hug. ”we got it from here. You look like you can use a seat.”

Sam had said that he would come help her out, but as the bar opened and people started trickling in, Lee started to get worried, stressing about the fact that she knew she didn’t have enough bartenders to deal with the crowd that would be coming in as the night progressed.

Finally, Sam made his way in, and Lee breathed a sigh of relief when she saw his wave. It did not take long for Sam and the bartenders he brought with him to make their way behind the bar, though Lee did jump in surprise when the woman who came with Sam suddenly appeared right next to her. It didn’t surprise Lee that Sam had hired mutants, she had done the same, after all, she just hadn’t been expecting someone to teleport right beside her.

”Thanks Sam,” Lee said when he came up to her, returning his hug. ”I owe you for this. Over half the staff, including the owner, are sick. I’m not even supposed to be here tonight.”

But it did appear that they had things covered as the bartenders were already starting to get the few customers present drinks. Then she heard Sam’s last comment, and Lee shook her head slightly as she made her way back around the bar to sit on one of the tall barstools. ”You have no idea,” Lee replied to his comment about needing a seat. She’d really like more than that, a bed sure would be nice, but that wasn’t going to happen any time soon.

As Lee sat there looking across at Sam and the bartenders he had brought, one of Lee’s hands came to rest on her slightly protruding stomach. ”It feels like I’ve been running around non-stop for the last month. Even I need to sleep sometimes, and I haven’t been getting enough. Again.”

Sam raised an eyebrow, ”Was it the food?” he smirked and eyed his crew. Jack made his way back to the bar and Erin was already mixing some drinks while porting back to the spot. Sam was tempted to remind her it’s not the best to do while working with a group of strangers. She almost ported into Lee, would have made for a bad introduction.

”and where are you supposed to be tonight? Enjoying a drink and relaxing at your favorite place of work?” Sam then stopped and took a step back. His eye looked to Lee’s stomach, he didn’t know much about pregnancy other than the fake memories he had of Alexandra but Lee. ”Maybe just a water?” he asked instinct taking a step back incase Lee tried to swing on him after his comment.

”Need a babysitter? I know a great guy.”

”Honestly, I don’t know,” Lee replied with a shrug. ”But it’s gotta be bad if Matt’s out sick.” Though Lee knew from experience working in restaurants years earlier that it didn’t take much for a bad cold or the flu to go through the staff. It just really sucked when it seemed to hit everyone at once, like it seemed to here.

When Sam asked what she was supposed to be doing, Lee shook her head. ”I’d been hoping to be in bed, honestly,” she told him, then laughed slightly when she saw his realization and heard his correction of what she’d be drinking. ”Yeah...that probably is far more appropriate all things considered.” But that didn’t stop Lee from wanting to have a drink or six, all things considered.

”Well, obviously not yet,” Lee replied, the joking tone evident in her voice. ”And who’s this guy? Because I’m not sure I’d trust you alone with her.”

Sam smirked, ”Awwww, a girl? Come on the ladies love me. I’ll make sure all the boys will be afraid of her.” Sam looked over to behind the bar and pointed to himself then lifted up the number two. It had been an ongoing thing with him and his crew but whenever he pointed to himself when he was ‘on’ the clock it had meant water. Even if that wasn’t what he wanted they knew that’s what he meant.

Erin walked over gave him the waters then ported back behind the safety of the bar where she went back to familiarizing herself with the layout. Sam offered an water to Lee, the glass frosting over with his touch. ”We’ll be designated drinking buddies till I can convince you to go home.”

”How’s the pregnancy?” Sam asked raising an eyebrow in a thinking gesture. ”Am I allowed to ask it? Alex always got ma-“ Sam set his water down after a sip whishing it was suddenly whiskey. ”Seems lack of sleep is going around”

Lee simply raised an eyebrow when Sam said all the ladies loved him. Yeah, that was part of the problem. But as he continued, Lee laughed slightly. ”I’m sure that her father will have that taken care of,” Lee replied, imagining Blaine standing, arms crossed, in front of some nervous teenaged boy. ”But an extra set of eyes watching out for her would be appreciated.” It certainly would, especially with how busy they were going to be, between work, Haven, and having two mutant kids to raise.

”Ahh...I don’t see that happening,” Lee told Sam with a sigh. Taking a small sip of water, she continued. ”Even if you do manage to talk me into that, I’ll have so much energy by that point that there won’t be a point in me going home early. But Kevin’s with Tarin tomorrow, so I’ll try to sleep after work.” At present, that was the best plan she had; though they had discovered that somehow Lee could shut off her siphoning now, she still hadn’t perfected it, and still could not always turn it off when she wanted to. And she’d already tried that night without success.

Then the inevitable pregnancy questions came. But it also sounded like Sam let something slip he hadn’t meant to. Frowning slightly in thought, Lee turned to look at him. ”Alex? Have you forgotten to tell me something?”

Sam lifted his water in a mock toast then took a drink, ”Here’s to tomorrow then, hoping that you get more sleep then you need. I know your powers give you energy but even a little shut eye is good to get your head clear.” he set the drink down then avoided the next question for a second before finally making eye contact again.

”I saw her again.” Sam said talking about his ex-girlfriend who he was once in love with. Now he was in love with the shadow of her, the one he was married, was married to when he was under the mind control effects of another ex-girlfriend. ”I mean, I always see her in my sleep but… I saw her in person again… first time since Romania when we split.” Sam looked to his water then had a clear frustrated look on his face as if he could turn water into whiskey he would have gone for the highest proof possible.

Talking about anything like this had never been easy for Sam. Friends he had but more often than not they had there own issues to deal with. In Lee’s case, kids a bar and her staff. Sam never felt right piling on his issues to anyone else’s. However, he was told by Gemma talking things out made it easier to deal with even if no one was listening. Bottles didn’t count but people do.

”She didn’t seem to recognize me at all. At first I thought I was seeing things again and I probably didn’t react the best way. I thought my mind was being messed with again. Ended up trying to ‘wake up’.” the way he said it meant something other than splashing water on his face.

”Just the same though I got to much going on right now, best for everyone that she doesn’t remember. I don’t know what Alex I would be talking to anyways. The one I was married to or the one that left me in Romania.” Sam’s hands started to fidget and he did everything he could not to make eye contact with Lee, his eye found it’s way to the bottles behind the bar. Both of his bartenders seemed to find their way in front of the bottles.

Lee just sat there listening as Sam said that he'd seen 'her' again. At first, Lee wasn't sure who he was talking about. Then she remembered who, and what, he was referring to. A crease formed between her eyes, though Lee really wasn't sure what to say. What did you say to someone in this situation. When you see a person you remember having a future with, remember spending years with, but they don't remember you.

At least that was one thing Lee was glad about, since she didn't really remember anything about that strange mass dream, she never had any of these moments. She had just had feelings and emotions about things she couldn't explain. Like how the apartment had felt empty because there was no child. But she didn't have to deal with actual memories.

"I'm sorry," Lee said softly, reaching a hand out to squeeze his. "I'm not even sure what I'd have done." Releasing his hand, Lee took a sip of her water, still looking at Sam who was avoiding her gaze. So she just nodded as she listened. There was a lot being said, a lot going through Sam's head. Finally, she just shrugged. "Who knows which Alex it would have been. Probably neither of them. I know I'm very different from what I was like right after Romania."

Sam nodded his head and didn’t pull his hand away when Lee tried to comfort him. His nostrils flared then his gaze made back to his water. He felt warm, uncomfortable. Wishing his water was a beer he took a sip slowing as he remembered it was water. ”Not much I can do. Drinking helped for a while but.” Sam shrugged and set his water down.

”She seemed happy, confused but happy. I wanted talk to her more but I scared her… and Juli.” Sam shook his head, ”But I’m rambling.” Sam raised his glass again. Trying to change the subject, ”So, Tarin… still seeing dead people?” Sam asked knowing the answer already but any subject change would have been better. He was doing well not drinking.

Lee simply nodded. Lee had seen Sam off and on over the years, since that strange shared dream, she'd seen him in better shape, and in worse shape. And, she knew, drinking could help short term, but only seemed to make things worse if you kept at it.

But as he seemed to decide to stop rambling, and turn things around to her ex. Lee shrugged as she took a sip of her water. "Well, I assume that he is," she finally said. "It's not like that's something that's likely to just stop. But at least things seem to be more...controlled. Kevin hasn't come home at all telling me anything to make me worry.

"But, that's another good thing about being back here," Lee continued with a slight smile. "Kevin's loving being able to spend much more time with his father."

Sam smirked and nodded, ”Yeah, I guess monsters in the closets or under the bed don’t really matter when your dad can see and talk to dead people…” Sam briefly recalled all the times he had to run into his ‘not-real’ kids rooms in the middle of the night. Usually a controlled blast of frost solved most fears.

A small nod into his water that was now refilled with ice (his doing), ”Fathers are an important part of any kids life, but then so are mothers. You don’t have those around you wind up with more people like me.” Sam said with a small laugh, ”World can’t handle more of me.”

”You and Tarin getting along at least?” Sam said before adding, ”None of my business if you don’t want to say.” Sam said wondering if he should try and change the subject again.

Lee couldn't help but laugh slightly. "Monsters still matter, and are quite scary," Lee replied with a slight shake of her head. "But that kid is far too comfortable with the idea of people being dead... Probably because he's, thankfully, never seen any of the bad ones..."

That said, Lee took a sip of her water. And almost spat it across the bar as she laughed at Sam's next comment. "More of you? I don't know how the world deals with you period," she teased. Well, he did seem to have a knack for getting into trouble.

But then Sam turned the conversation much more serious. Lee's eyes dropped to the bar in front of her, though she nodded slightly. "Things are still awkward, but we are getting along," Lee replied. Then she took a deep breath before looking over at Sam. "But life goes on, doesn't it?"