Kealey had always heard that there was something to be said for good food and good company, and as she sat in Aurum’s apartment eating the fish and chips they’d made, she had to agree completely. Aurum commented that he’d had help to make the food what it was and Kealey chuckled, shaking her head.

”We both know I’d have ended up cooking my ponytail if you hadn’t told me what to do every step of the way.”

Aurum said he wouldn’t mind cooking this recipe again, and Kealey nodded her head, ”I wouldn’t mind eating it again. That’s for sure.”

Then they ate. Kealey was always preoccupied by food when it was sitting in front of her, and it probably had to do with the emotions that food always produced. No matter what the food was, people reacted strongly to it. Eating was something that people could stay removed from emotionally, they either loved what they ate or they hated it. The two people eating at that moment, loved it, so by the time she finished, Kealey was floating on a cloud nine of happiness and thinking about what a strange day it had turned out to be.

”When you woke up this morning, did you think there was even the smallest possibility your day would end up like this?”

>>”We both know I’d have ended up cooking my ponytail if you hadn’t told me what to do every step of the way.”

Aurum didn't smirk. He only focused harder on his food, and stowed his amusement. "Good listening is a skill." Really, it was. There were too many cooks who didn't listen, and ended up frying their hats.

>>”I wouldn’t mind eating it again. That’s for sure.”

He smiled. They were in agreement.

Then they ate.

After a while, Kealey asked him.

>>”When you woke up this morning, did you think there was even the smallest possibility your day would end up like this?”

Aurum looked up from his fish and chips, and shook his head. "No, I didn't. I was more preoccupied with errands, and thinking of what to buy my little sister. It certainly turned out alright, though." He couldn't have asked for a better piece of fish.

Kealey had simply nodded when Aurum said that good listening was a skill. It was, and it was a skill that Kealey was excellent at. Empathy tended to do that, make a person a good listener. Hearing what a person said and feeling what they felt when they said it granted a whole new perspective on a conversation. Kealey knew people.

Her question was answered and it was Kealey’s turn to be surprised again. All kinds of people had siblings, but for some reason Kealey hadn’t pictured Aurum with one. She smiled, ”You have a sister?” she said, leaning forward slightly in her seat to listen, ”Shopping for….her birthday?” the blond guessed, ”How old is she?”

Somewhere in there, Kealey realized the deluge of questions might be a little odd. Her cheeks colored and she slumped back into the seat, ”Sorry…I probably sound crazy.” Kealey picked up another chip from her plate and ate it slowly, ”I had a sister once.”

>>”You have a sister?” ”Shopping for….her birthday?”

"Yeah." Aurum replied.

>>”How old is she?”

"She'll be 16 on December 20th. Her name is Ami. It's short for Amelia, but she doesn't like that one, for some reason. I think she thinks she'll disappear like the pilot." He joked. "She's a handful. I still don't know what to... buy her." He trailed off as Kealey's cheeks colored, and she slumped back in her chair to apologize.

Aurum shook his head. "No, it's fine. It isn't invasive or anything." At least, it wasn't yet. Just so long as she didn't start asking about how that made him feel, or questing about family pets. "But enough about me. You said you had a sister?"

The blond nodded when Aurum basically waved off her apology. At least he didn’t feel offended. Ami, a pretty name, and even prettier that it was short for something classic. That fact wasn’t lost on Aurum, or his sister either, and Kealey smiled as she nodded her head.

The little girl was a ’handful’ and Kealey couldn’t help but smile at how fondly the words were said, or how fond Aurum felt when he said them, ”You’re very fond of her. I‘m sure she‘ll love whatever you pick out for her. ”

Aurum swung the question back to the comment Kealey had made about having a sister, and she nodded her head. ”Her name was Maire, and she was a handful too. She always said I was a changeling because she and our mother were redheads. My da was a blond like me, but he kept his hair so short you couldn‘t tell.”

Kealey was rambling and she knew it, but she knew that any other details were going to be depressing. Talk about killing the happy mood of the afternoon, she’d brought it up though. ”She died a long time ago. They all did.”

Subject change time, ”Now we’re talking too much about me…and I don’t want to kill the buzz from the meal. Do you have options for your sister’s present? Maybe I can give a female perspective?”

>> ”You’re very fond of her. I‘m sure she‘ll love whatever you pick out for her. ”

"I hope so," Aurum replied.

The conversation turned to Kealey. Aurum listened to Kealey describe her sister.

Maire. A redhead. Also a handful. She sounded nice. Aurum smiled as Kealey rambled. She sounded like she loved her sister as much as he cared about Ami. The smile faded when Kealey reached the end of her reminiscing.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Aurum said. He hadn't wanted to make Kealey feel like she was killing the mood. Couldn't people reminisce about family without tears?

Ah, well. He let her change the subject. Disney princesses were probably a better topic than deceased loved ones (Sleeping Beauty, notwithstanding).

"Ami set some things out to give me ideas..." Aurum started slowly, remembering the Calvin Kline catalog. "But I think her heart was in the wrong place..." Maybe it would be for the best not to mention that catalog to the lady at the table... "She likes Disney Princess things, and video games, and boys... and clothes, I suppose. What do you think?"

He was sorry to hear about her family, and Kealey could tell the sentiment was genuine. Granted, people usually were sympathetic when they found out that her entire family was dead. It was something that Kealey wouldn’t have been able to think about so easily a few months ago. Things had changed in those months though, Kealey had changed and she inclined her head slightly in thanks as Aurum let the subject change. Just because it was easier to talk about didn’t mean that bombs and fire suddenly made great dinner conversation.

Birthday presents and Disney Princesses were great things to talk about, though, and as Aurum explained all the different things his sister liked, Kealey couldn’t help but laugh. ”She likes Princesses and video games, boys and clothes. I can see why you’re having such a hard time choosing something to get for her.” She was teasing, and hoped that Aurum would pick up on it.

”Isn’t New York City famous for that giant toy store? I’ll bet they have lots of princesses and video games there. Maybe even some boys and clothes.” Kealey stopped in thought for a moment, then a broad smile spread across her features.

” You could always take her to dinner somewhere she wants to go, then let her go there and pick out her own present. A little girl that age knows what she wants.”

>>”She likes Princesses and video games, boys and clothes. I can see why you’re having such a hard time choosing something to get for her.

Aurum smirked. "Yeah. It's a real mystery."

>>”Isn’t New York City famous for that giant toy store? I’ll bet they have lots of princesses and video games there. Maybe even some boys and clothes.”

"I am NOT getting her boys," Aurum laughed. "Toys, yes. Boys, definitely not."

As for that last suggestion... "Maybe. Part of me worries she'll come back with something huge, though. Or a store clerk." He nodded with serious eyes and a not-so-serious smile. "But it's definitely an option... if I got her clothes," Aurum added thoughtfully, eyes on Kealey. "I don't have much of an eye, so far as fashion for girls goes. Maybe you could give me some ideas?"

Kealey’s heart went out to Aurum a little bit. He really was putting some serious effort into finding the perfect present for his little sister. The day had been full of surprises as far as the coffee boy at the Full Circle was concerned and Kealey had learned a valuable lesson as well. It was always bad to judge a book by its cover…or a person by their emotions. She’d known that for a long time, but it was still so easy to assume that emotions ruled everyone as completely as they ruled her.

Aurum was pretty vehement that he was not getting his sister boys and Kealey chuckled, ”I didn’t mean for you to actually buy her a boy. I just thought she might like the atmosphere.” Boys no, toys yes. Kealey kept right on grinning.

Aurum’s worries about the toy store were legitimate, little girls didn’t necessarily look at price tags before deciding they’d fallen in love with something. For that matter, Kealey allowed that grown up girls didn’t always look at price tags either.

Aurum pointed out that he didn’t have much of an eye for girl’s clothes and Kealey’s heart went out for him again. She studied him across the table for a few moments, contemplating. Letting a girl pick out her own presents was one thing, picking out a great outfit for her was another completely. It scored major points, even if it was a present from a male relative.

”I happen to know a thing or two about clothing…and a gentle nudge in the right direction never hurt anyone, right?”

>>”I happen to know a thing or two about clothing…and a gentle nudge in the right direction never hurt anyone, right?”

Aurum agreed with a laugh. "I'd appreciate the nudge. So, was that you volunteering to help me go shopping for her, or helping me pick something out of catalogs?" Either worked for him, but it was good to know if they were selecting an entire outfit at Macy's, or picking a cute skirt out of a magazine. For his wallet's sake, mind you. Though, he certainly didn't mind the opportunity for a second date. If they got Ami something great doing so, even better.

Aurum asked if Kealey had just offered to help him pick out the outfit for his sister and she nodded her head slowly, with a smile, ” Hmmm. I think I could do that. Think about the things she normally wears, the things she hates, get her sizes, and give me a price range.” Those things were all important pieces of the puzzle that made up a young girl’s likes and needs. If she had those, Kealey could make an outfit, possibly a great outfit.

The food was pretty much gone, and Kealey mused for a few moments over the events of the day. It was a whirlwind, some of which she barely even remembered. Beyond all of that, though, ”Thanks for all of this.” she said, small amounts of seriousness slipping back into the lightheartedness of the past few minutes. ”I haven’t had this much fun since…” she stopped short of saying something that would undoubtedly bring on an uncomfortable conversation, ”In a long time. I know it sounds odd, but it’s true. Thanks.”

>> ” Hmmm. I think I could do that. Think about the things she normally wears, the things she hates, get her sizes, and give me a price range.”

Great. So it was a date, then. Aurum thought for a second about what sorts of things Ami usually wore. "Hmm, she likes cute shirts, hooded sweatshirts, skirts, jean jackets... the occasional dress. I guess her tastes sort of range. She doesn't like it too preppy, not emo or goth... More 'teen' than 'kid', though. She likes reds and blues and yellows and greens... pink. " He held his chin, and turned his head, thinking. "I guess if I saw it, I'd be able to tell 'Ami' or 'Not'. As for price range... go wild. But not too wild. No $60 dollar jeans." He looked back up at her. He hoped that all made sense. A grin slipped onto his face. "Go by those rules, and I think we'll be good."

He'd have to get the sizes, but that was okay. It was getting late. From Kealey's comments, it sounded like she was full, and ready to go.

"You're welcome," Aurum replied politely. "Any time. I guess it's getting late. Do you need any help getting home?"

Kealey nodded as Aurum gave her a pretty cut and dry description of what he thought his sister liked as far as clothing was concerned. They were pretty vague descriptions, but they really were pretty good…at least coming from a man in his 20’s most of them probably wouldn’t have been able to distinguish between the different styles. Aurum was doing really well.

Price-wise, he was really fair too. Kealey didn’t really understand why the fashion industry insisted on putting out things that expensive for young children anyway. They grew so fast it eliminated the point of buying expensive clothes. ”I think that’s more than reasonable. I think I know of a couple places where we can find what you’re looking for.”

It seemed like the day was drawing to an end and it was probably time. Kealey wasn’t tired right now, but as soon as she had some quiet time, it would probably set in pretty heavily. She looked around the apartment, they’d made a pretty serious meal, and there was a pretty serious mess leftover. To Aurum’s offer of a ride, Kealey shook her head, ”I got an all day bus ticket this morning. I’d feel wasteful if I didn’t make use of it.”

Kealey stood and grabbed her plate, then held her hand out for Aurum’s, ”Let me help you clean up first, though.”

>>”I got an all day bus ticket this morning. I’d feel wasteful if I didn’t make use of it.”

"Alright." That was fair. "I'll walk you to the stop?" His eyes rolled to the mess in his kitchen. "Call it chivarly meets avoidance."

Kealey grabbed her plate, and held her hand out for Aurum's. Aurum smirked, and obliged. "If you insist." Darn. And here he was, wanting to slack off.

He rose from his chair, and got to work with Kealey on the mess. A few minutes and suds later, everything looked ship-shape. Aurum grabbed a coat off the rack by the door, and slipped it on.

"I'm ready."

Kealey wasn’t going to let Aurum off the hook that easily. If she let him put off the cleaning of the kitchen, that meant she wouldn’t be able to help. The way she’d been raised…if you made a mess, then you helped clean it up. Aurum reluctantly handed her the plate and said that if she insisted, then they would clean. ”I do.”

It really didn’t take them all that long to clean up the mess that they’d made, even though it had seemed rather expansive when Kealey had looked at it before offering to help. When they were done, and Kealey was wiping her hands on a dish towel, Aurum moved to get his jacket. He was ready to go?

Kealey raised an eyebrow. He was going to walk her to the bus stop? That was really nice of him, too. Kealey glanced at her watch, it would be a bit until the bus would show up anyway, the company would be great. Kealey grabbed her own jacket, as well as her purse and then they were out the door.

It wasn’t a long walk from Aurum’s apartment building to the nearest bus stop. Kealey would have to change busses once to get back to her place, but as she’d told Aurum, at least she’d get some use out of her bus card. Next time, when she helped him with the shopping, she’d have to see if there was a better way. Oh, the next time.

”You’ll be needing a way to get a hold of me if I’m going to be helping you shop.” Kealey said, pulling her cell phone out of her pocket as they approached the metro sign that indicated that a bus would stop there to pick up passengers.