Lee sat as the men talked. As Sam asked his question, though, Lee blinked. Hadn't she told him that's why Tarin wanted to talk with him, to get another opinion on how he'd be accepted at the mansion? She thought she had told him that.

Or did Sam just not believe her? Did he not trust what she had said about the reason for talking to Tarin?

But, though he looked uncomfortable about the fact that Sam was asking another question, Tarin answered. And as he spoke, Lee glared at him. Not because of all the worries he was voicing, but because he said that six weeks ago he wouldn't have cared what happened. And as he spoke, Lee saw Tarin move his eyes to her, so she knew he saw the glare she was directing at him for not only the comment, but the thought behind it.

Still, the explanation seemed to be enough for Sam, since he went on to tell them that while he hadn't actually been at the mansion long, they seemed to be extremely accepting and not very full of questions about the past. That seemed encouraging. And Tarin seemed to be getting closer and closer to actually being ready to go.

"Thanks, Sam," Lee said, standing and moving around to the other side of the counter, though the movement didn't really put her any closer to either man. "It means a lot that you actually came and did this."

“Tarin they wouldn’t still be in business if they put down the ones that were dangerous, it’s a place to learn control.” Sam paused he sort of sounded like Neena there, which was fine with him because she was the nicest adult there.

"Is it something where I need to set up an appointment with people there before I attempt some contact...or do I just walk up and ring the doorbell?"

“I don’t know about an appointment, I just walked up to the front gate and rang the doorbell, after that they gave me a room and a tour.” He paused for a second, “so are you looking to live there? Or just get help with control?”

"Thanks, Sam," Lee said, standing and moving around to the other side of the counter, though the movement didn't really put her any closer to either man. "It means a lot that you actually came and did this."

Sam turned to Lee and said, “I told you that I would help you out.” He finished with a smile then turned back to Tarin and spoke “I know you already know Garret, but everyone there is nice once you get to know them, if you guys want I could take you there and see if you can talk to one of the professors. Or even a small tour”

Tarin looked straight back at Lee when she glared at him, face virtually impassive, how would she have expected him to feel when she'd left that day. Hell, she'd even brought Robert along with her to help her carry her things. A sad smile spread across his face and he shook his head slowly, "You still don't get it..." he said softly, then turned back towards Sam who was explaining that the people at the mansion were really very accepting of mutants with a past.

It was a place to learn control, something that Tarin was desperate for, he had a million more questions, but now after talking to two people who actually lived there, he felt safe enough to ask those questions himself. If everyone at the mansion was in on the deal to exterminate dangerous mutants, he'd just have to deal with that when the time came.

Lee was coming around the counter, and for a second Tarin thought she might to over to Sam, but she stopped somewhere in the middle and told him that it had meant alot to her that he'd come. Tarin's green monster reared its ugly head, but he reigned it in sharply, reminding himself that none of it mattered because she'd come back to him, even after whatever time she'd spent with Sam.

Sam was replying and Tarin watched him interact with Lee, then direct the conversation back to the both of them. Tarin shook his head, going to the mansion would have to wait for the weekend. "Not tonight." Tarin said succinctly, but not rudely, "I've got the shop to take care of and some other things to take care of before I go out there. I'm planning on getting out there this weekend. As Lee said, thank you for this, I really need the help but I'm sure you can understand my desire to make sure things were safe. Thank you for the offer though, and we might drop your name or Garrett's when we go out there."

That said, Tarin moved forward and extended his hand again, "All awkward circumstances aside, it really was nice to meet you. I most definitely owe you one...for more than one reason."

Like the fact that you so royally effed up with Lee that she came back to me... Tarin couldn't help the thought that ran through his head and hey...he'd done so well. He was allowed one slip-up, right?

Lee's glare didn't dim at all when she heard Tarin's little comment about her still not getting it. What was there for her to get? The part here that was mattering to her was that if Tarin had gone to the mansion six weeks ago rather than now, he wouldn't have cared if they 'put him down'. Whether she was with him or not at that point, how could that be alright with her in any way, shape, or form?

But Lee let the glare slide off her face as she heard Sam telling them a bit more about the mansion, even offering to take them out there for a tour himself. Now that was something that Lee hadn't expected to happen. Sure, Sam had offered that to her before, but that was when he was out with her, hoping that she'd be really ready to actually date sometime soon so that they could start dating. But for him to offer to take not only her, but also Tarin, on a tour of the mansion now, that wiped what bit of the glare was still on her face away.

Lee didn't know how to respond to that, but luckily Tarin managed something. That weekend. Wow. It was better than going then and there, but Lee wasn't sure she was ready to go that soon, not with the reason for their visit. It was Tarin who wanted, needed, to go, it was his problem with his powers they were needing to deal with, and if he was ready to go that weekend, she was going to have to make herself be ready too.

And then Tarin was moving forward to shake Sam's hand once more. A part of Lee was completely baffled as she stood there watching the exchange. Where was the jealousy and anger from Tarin? It had been there with David, when he had simply been looking at her, while she was almost oblivious to that. But here, Tarin knew that Sam liked her, knew that they'd been out before, yet no jealousy.

"Yeah, you did say you'd help," Lee agreed with Sam's comment toward her, pushing her previous thoughts away, at least for the moment. "But I'm still glad you did come to talk to Tarin. Thank you."

Sam smiled as Tarin extend his hand to Sam and as he spoke Sam let out a small laugh and said, “Yea it was pretty awkward.” Sam smiled again took his hand and said “my pleasure entirely.” Sam ignored Tarin’s last comment because he had an idea it had to involve Lee, which would only make it more awkward.

Sam then turned to Lee and said, “Well I think it’s time I go, got to try and find my way back. And if you guys ever need anything, give me a call.” He walked to the door opened it and before he left he turned his head to Lee waved to her and said, ”See ya.” And with that Sam left the one of the most awkward situations he had ever been in.

Tarin had to respect the guy for admitting that it had been an awkward situation, then he was shaking Tarin's hand and leaving. Tarin had to also hand it to the guy there, he knew when it was time to go. As the door jingled and shut, Tarin breathed an audible sigh of relief and slumped slightly against the doorway that led to the back of the shop.

"Well, that was helpful." he said, moving around and starting to do the normal things that he would have done on a normal day to clean the shop up and close it for the night, even though it was only after 4 in the afternoon. It was a Friday and after all that, Tarin just wanted to go home. Well, he didn't want to go home, he wanted to be with Lee.

He looked at her as he moved around and couldn't help the burning curiosity flowing though him. He just had to ask, but he was careful with how he phrased things. Voice extremely casual, Tarin stopped and moved closer to Lee, "He was very nice, polite." he said, then tossed out the whole idea, things were going too well to ruin, even for curiosities sake.

"I really am glad you brought him, and he agreed to come Lee. I meant everything I said when I was talking to him. I know it couldn't have been easy for you either though...and I just want you to know how grateful I am."

Lee could see the awkwardness as Tarin and Sam shook hands for the last time even as they spoke about it. But things had gone so much better than Lee had thought it would, so much better than she had hoped.

And then Sam was up, making his way to the door, saying to give him a call if they ever needed anything. Giving him a small smile, Lee watched Sam leave the shop. Hearing a sigh, Lee turned her eyes toward Tarin as he started moving around to close up.

After about a minute, Lee saw Tarin stop and turn toward her again, and she thought his face looked almost forced calm there, though mingled with curiosity. Yet, what he ended up saying didn't match with what Lee saw on his face.

"Yeah, he was," Lee said carefully as she looked at Tarin. What was going through his head, she couldn't help but wonder. Where was that jealousy she had been expecting all day and yet hadn't seen?

"It was weird," Lee ended up agreeing when Tarin told her he knew it couldn't have been easy. "Only because I know how important it is for you, us.

"I still can't believe this, though," Lee continued, shaking her head slightly as she took a small step toward Tarin. "I mean, I am glad, but I don't understand it. I thought you'd be jealous..."

Tarin couldn't help the small smile crossing his features at Lee's bewilderment. He knew what she'd been expecting and he'd figured that was why she was so nervous about the whole thing. She'd felt like she was on pins and needles the whole morning and the whole time Sam was in the shop. Tarin sighed slightly and shook his head a little.

Lee agreed it was weird, but at least she understood the gravity of the situation, and luckily, everything had worked out well. It was a safe place to go to get help. Tarin was excited about it, but the strain from the last few days was still pulling on him.

Lee finally voiced the words and Tarin smiled again, a little tighter this time and shook his head slowly, "Of course I'm jealous Lee." he said, leaning against the door frame again, "I love you more than anything in the world. How could I possibly blame him when I had no claim on you then? I think any man who wouldn't be interested is an idiot."

Tarin paused and took another step closer to Lee, still not within arms reach, but closer still. "And after seeing him, I feel so lucky that you're here with me now that I have a hard time being too angry...or jealous."

Tarin was smiling at her, smiling at her confusion and curiosity. Then went to lean against the door frame again as he started speaking. And told her that he was indeed jealous, but apparently not showing it because he had had no claim on her at the time.

Lee cocked her head to the side as she watched Tarin take a step closer to her as he continued speaking. Seeing Sam made him feel even luckier that she had come back to him?

At that, Lee rolled her eyes. "After seeing him?" Lee repeated. "Still on that whole looks thing? Really, Tarin, when has that whole traditional thing been all that important to me?"

Shaking her head, Lee walked around to the back of the counter so she could grab her purse to be ready to leave the shop. "Does this mean you're going to stop acting all jealous now?" Lee asked, her eyes turning back to Tarin. "I mean, if you didn't show it today, you really have no reason to even feel it when I don't even notice those guys you keep getting jealous at."

Tarin gave Lee a slightly deadpan look when she commented that physical appearance hadn't had a thing to do with what she'd seen in Sam. "Oh please Lee..." he said, rolling his eyes slightly, "You can't tell me it didn't have anything to do with it. It doesn't matter though, it really, really doesn't. "

Lee went on to suggest that he might not need to get jealous at all anymore and Tarin actually laughed, "I can't promise you perfection love." he said as he watched Lee move to get her things so that they can leave, "I'm trying to look at it from a different direction though, so vast improvement could probably be expected."

As they were leaving the shop, a thought occurred to Tarin and a smile spread across his features, "So Lee...I was just thinking. I know a great little Chinese place down the street...and there were a couple of movies I'd been hoping to see. Would you maybe want to go out tonight? Junior mints, popcorn, and all?"

Lee stared at Tarin when he didn't seem to believe what she said about traditional good looks. "I didn't say it had nothing to do with it," Lee told Tarin, her tone very off hand, almost disinterested. "It wasn't that important, though. If it were important, I would have run off with Josh a long time ago."

Tarin went on to laugh when she had asked about him not getting jealous any more. But he did say that while he couldn't promise perfection, with no slips of jealousy, it was looking better for the future. Lee was honestly quite happy about that, she had always found those jealous outbursts to be quite annoying.

But then they were leaving the shop, just locking up the door, when Tarin said something that shocked Lee. Chinese restaurant, a movie? "You mean like a date?" Lee whispered, staring at Tarin as she stood there on the sidewalk outside the shop. Hadn't she just told Sam earlier that afternoon that, though she and Tarin were giving it another shot, she still wasn't exactly ready to date again?

Lee's response made Tarin nearly choke on his own saliva. Josh? She was joking though, Tarin could tell, and he actually laughed out loud at the thought, "Yeah. Well, you'd have been disappointed very quickly. That old saying about height definitely isn't true." Tarin said wickedly, a slightly malicious smile crossing his features.

Lee seemed shocked about the prospect of going on a date with him. Tarin tilted his head at the surprise and shrugged his shoulders, "Well...we don't have to. I'd be up for another movie night at home...I just thought it might be nice to get out of the apartment. Maybe dress up a little and have a night on the town. God knows after everything we deserve it, and it seems like we've finally got something to celebrate."

Tarin paused outside the door of the shop and pulled it shut, locking it soundly and checking it before he turned back to Lee in the afternoon foot traffic on the sidewalk. "So, what do you think?" he said with a smile.

Lee shook her head at Tarin's laugh. It almost wasn't even fun teasing him with Josh like that any more. He didn't even question it anymore, he just automatically knew that she wasn't interested in Josh and all his 'traditional good looks', though the accent was still tempting.

What Lee wasn't expecting was Tarin's comment about Josh. Her eyes widening, Lee turned to stare at Tarin in shock. He had told her before that they grew up sharing a room. Really.... Lee wasn't entirely sure whether Tarin was telling the truth or just saying that to one up her. In these situations, Lee was never sure about that.

Tarin was backtracking, saying he'd be alright with simply going home for another movie night there, but Lee could see it on his face, he really wanted to go out. Based on how the whole rest of their relationship had gone, both before and now after the camp, Lee knew Tarin wouldn't actually push her on it, he never pushed her, but she could still see that Tarin wanted to go.

Lee swallowed and turned, slowly starting on the path home. If Tarin was thinking they could dress up and go out, they'd have to go home first anyway, right?

"I don't know," Lee said slowly, glancing over at Tarin as she walked. "I'm not sure I'm ready to actually date yet." Lee paused and walked a few steps before she continued. But really, she wasn't ready to date, but she was back with Tarin and living with him. Wasn't that more than simply dating?

Lee glanced over at Tarin. "What movie were you thinking of?"

He'd one upped her, Tarin grinned brightly, that had been his intention from the start with the comment about Josh. The shock on her face was enough to make him even happier and he chuckled a wicked little chuckle as they made their way down the street.

The smile faded though when Lee commented that she didn't think she was ready to date yet. Tarin was confused and not afraid to admit it to himself. How could Lee possibly be ready to live with him again, but not ready to go on a date. Tarin decided it had to do with the almost obligatory physical contact that a date involved. Lee asked what movie he was thinking.

"Well..I've been seeing previews for that one victorian romance thing...I've been sorely missing all the chick flicks on the big screen the last few months...I can always wait for video though if you don't want to go."

Tarin frowned at the ground a little as he walked and turned his head towards Lee, "You know I'm not saying a date in the loaded sense of the word, right? I was just thinking it might be nice to get out tonight. I'm not pushing or anything...I just wanted to clarify what I meant...."

When she glanced over to ask what movie he was thinking about for the movie, Lee saw that Tarin was looking confused. But despite that confusion, he said he was interested in seeing a Victorian romance. Hadn't there been a preview of that on TV just the night before?

"Oh yeah, that one did look good," Lee agreed, then smiled as Tarin said he'd been missing the chick flicks recently. He really didn't like going to see those without her, did he?

But then he started to explain himself, saying it wasn't really a date, or at least he wasn't going to push for it to be one, but he wanted to at least get out of the apartment.

"No pushing?" Lee asked quietly, looking over at Tarin, who was still looking concerned over the whole issue. "I really am trying. But a movie does sound nice."